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1 Chronicles 1

NASB Copyright 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

E-Prime consists of a paraphrase in which we have endeavored to replace all “to be” verbs (is,
are were, was, etc.) with concrete active verbs, eliminating the “is of identity” (instead of “John
is a teacher,” we use “John teaches.” ), the “is of predication” (instead of “The apple is sweet,”
we use “The apple tastes sweet.”), as well as the passive voice and phantom subjects (instead of
“Blessed is the man,” we use “God blesses the man.” ). By performing these linguistic
procedures, we have hoped to create a crisp, direct, and sparkling document.

Rendered into E-Prime by Dr. David F. Maas

Genealogy from Adam


1
Adam, Seth, Enosh,
2
Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared,
3
Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech,
4
Noah, Shem, Ham and Japheth.
5
The sons of Japheth we identify as Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech and Tiras.
6
The sons of Gomer we identify as Ashkenaz, Diphath, and Togarmah.
7
The sons of Javan we identify as Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim and Rodanim.
8
The sons of Ham we identify as Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.
9
The sons of Cush we identify as Seba, Havilah, Sabta, Raama and Sabteca; and the sons of
Raamah we identify as Sheba and Dedan.
10
Cush became the father of Nimrod; he began to act like a mighty one in the earth.
11
Mizraim became the father of the people of Lud, Anam, Lehab, Naphtuh,
12
Pathrus, Casluh, from which the Philistines came, and Caphtor.
13
Canaan became the father of Sidon, his firstborn, Heth,
14
and the Jebusites, the Amorites, the Girgashites,
15
the Hivites, the Arkites, the Sinites,
16
the Arvadites, the Zemarites and the Hamathites.
17
The sons of Shem we identify as Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, Aram, Uz, Hul, Gether and
Meshech.
18
Arpachshad became the father of Shelah and Shelah became the father of Eber.
19
Two sons became born to Eber, the name of the one we call Peleg, for in his days the earth
became divided, and his brother had the name of Joktan.
20
Joktan became the father of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah,
21
Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah,
22
Ebal, Abimael, Sheba,
23
Ophir, Havilah and Jobab; all these we identify as the sons of Joktan.
24
Shem, Arpachshad, Shelah,
25
Eber, Peleg, Reu,
26
Serug, Nahor, Terah,
27
Abram, namely, Abraham.

Descendants of Abraham
28
The sons of Abraham we identify as Isaac and Ishmael.
29
These we acknowledge as their genealogies: the firstborn of Ishmael we identify as Nebaioth,
then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,
30
Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema,
31
Jetur, Naphish and Kedemah; these we identify as the sons of Ishmael.
32
The sons of Keturah, Abraham's concubine, whom she bore, we identify as Zimran, Jokshan,
Medan, Midian, Ishbak and Shuah. And the sons of Jokshan we identify as Sheba and Dedan.
33
The sons of Midian we identify as Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida and Eldaah. All these we
identify as the sons of Keturah.
34
Abraham became the father of Isaac. The sons of Isaac we identify as Esau and Israel.
35
The sons of Esau we identify as Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jalam and Korah.
36
The sons of Eliphaz we identify as Teman, Omar, Zephi, Gatam, Kenaz, Timna and Amalek.
37
The sons of Reuel we identify as Nahath, Zerah, Shammah and Mizzah.
38
The sons of Seir we identify as Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, Dishon, Ezer and Dishan.
39
The sons of Lotan we identify as Hori and Homam; and Lotan's sister we identify as Timna.
40
The sons of Shobal we identify as Alian, Manahath, Ebal, Shephi and Onam. And the sons of
Zibeon we identify as Aiah and Anah.
41
The son of Anah we identify as Dishon. And the sons of Dishon we identify as Hamran,
Eshban, Ithran and Cheran.
42
The sons of Ezer we identify as Bilhan, Zaavan and Jaakan. The sons of Dishan we identify as
Uz and Aran.
43
Now these kings reigned in the land of Edom before any king of the sons of Israel reigned. Bela
we identify as the son of Beor, and his city had the name of Dinhabah.
44
When Bela died, Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah became king in his place.
45
When Jobab died, Husham of the land of the Temanites became king in his place.
46
When Husham died, Hadad the son of Bedad, who defeated Midian in the field of Moab,
became king in his place; and his city has the name of Avith.
47
When Hadad died, Samlah of Masrekah became king in his place.
48
When Samlah died, Shaul of Rehoboth by the River became king in his place.
49
When Shaul died, Baal-hanan the son of Achbor became king in his place.
50
When Baal-hanan died, Hadad became king in his place; and his city had the name of Pai, and
his wife had the name of Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab.
51
Then Hadad died. Now the chiefs of Edom we identify as: chief Timna, chief Aliah, chief
Jetheth,
52
chief Oholibamah, chief Elah, chief Pinon,
53
chief Kenaz, chief Teman, chief Mibzar,
54
chief Magdiel, chief Iram. These we identify as the chiefs of Edom.

1 Chronicles 2

NASB E-Prime DFM

Genealogy: Twelve Sons of Jacob (Israel)


1
These we identify as the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun,
2
Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad and Asher.
3
The sons of Judah we identify as Er, Onan and Shelah; these three became born to him by Bath-
shua the Canaanitess. And Er, Judah's firstborn, did wickedness in the sight of the LORD, so He
put him to death.
4
Tamar his daughter-in-law bore him Perez and Zerah. Judah had five sons in all.
5
The sons of Perez we identify as Hezron and Hamul.
6
The sons of Zerah we identify as Zimri, Ethan, Heman, Calcol and Dara; five of them in all.
7
The son of Carmi we identify as Achar, the troubler of Israel, who violated the ban.
8
The son of Ethan we identify as Azariah.

Genealogy of David
9
Now the sons of Hezron, who became born to him we identify as Jerahmeel, Ram and Chelubai.
10
Ram became the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab became the father of Nahshon, leader
of the sons of Judah;
11
Nahshon became the father of Salma, Salma became the father of Boaz,
12
Boaz became the father of Obed, and Obed became the father of Jesse;
13
and Jesse became the father of Eliab his firstborn, then Abinadab the second, Shimea the third,
14
Nethanel the fourth, Raddai the fifth,
15
Ozem the sixth, David the seventh;
16
and their sisters we identify as Zeruiah and Abigail. And the three sons of Zeruiah we identify
as Abshai, Joab and Asahel.
17
Abigail bore Amasa, and the father of Amasa we identify as Jether the Ishmaelite.
18
Now Caleb the son of Hezron had sons by Azubah his wife, and by Jerioth; and these we
identify as her sons: Jesher, Shobab, and Ardon.
19
When Azubah died, Caleb married Ephrath, who bore him Hur.
20
Hur became the father of Uri, and Uri became the father of Bezalel.
21
Afterward Hezron went in to the daughter of Machir the father of Gilead, whom he married
when he reached sixty years old; and she bore him Segub.
22
Segub became the father of Jair, who had twenty-three cities in the land of Gilead.
23
But Geshur and Aram took the towns of Jair from them, with Kenath and its villages, even sixty
cities. All these we identify as the sons of Machir, the father of Gilead.
24
After the death of Hezron in Caleb-ephrathah, Abijah, Hezron's wife, bore him Ashhur the
father of Tekoa.
25
Now the sons of Jerahmeel the firstborn of Hezron we identify as Ram the firstborn, then
Bunah, Oren, Ozem and Ahijah.
26
Jerahmeel had another wife, who had the name of Atarah; she had a son named Onam.
27
The sons of Ram, the firstborn of Jerahmeel, we identify as Maaz, Jamin and Eker.
28
The sons of Onam we identify as Shammai and Jada. And the sons of Shammai we identify as
Nadab and Abishur.
29
Abishur's wife had the name Abihail, and she bore him Ahban and Molid.
30
The sons of Nadab we identify as Seled and Appaim, and Seled died without sons.
31
Appaim son had the name of Ishi. And Ishi had a son named Sheshan. And Sheshan son had the
name of Ahlai.
32
The sons of Jada the brother of Shammai we identify as Jether and Jonathan, and Jether died
without sons.
33
The sons of Jonathan we identify as Peleth and Zaza. These we identify as the sons of
Jerahmeel.
34
Now Sheshan had no sons, only daughters. And Sheshan had an Egyptian servant who had the
name of Jarha.
35
Sheshan gave his daughter to Jarha his servant in marriage, and she bore him Attai.
36
Attai became the father of Nathan, and Nathan became the father of Zabad,
37
and Zabad became the father of Ephlal, and Ephlal became the father of Obed,
38
and Obed became the father of Jehu, and Jehu became the father of Azariah,
39
and Azariah became the father of Helez, and Helez became the father of Eleasah,
40
and Eleasah became the father of Sismai, and Sismai became the father of Shallum,
41
and Shallum became the father of Jekamiah, and Jekamiah became the father of Elishama.
42
Now the sons of Caleb, the brother of Jerahmeel, we identify as Mesha his firstborn, who we
identify as the father of Ziph; and his son had the name of Mareshah, the father of Hebron.
43
The sons of Hebron we identify as Korah and Tappuah and Rekem and Shema.
44
Shema became the father of Raham, the father of Jorkeam; and Rekem became the father of
Shammai.
45
The son of Shammai had the name of Maon, and Maon we identify as the father of Bethzur.
46
Ephah, Caleb's concubine, bore Haran, Moza and Gazez; and Haran became the father of
Gazez.
47
The sons of Jahdai we identify as Regem, Jotham, Geshan, Pelet, Ephah and Shaaph.
48
Maacah, Caleb's concubine, bore Sheber and Tirhanah.
49
She also bore Shaaph the father of Madmannah, Sheva the father of Machbena and the father of
Gibea; and the daughter of Caleb we identify as Achsah.
50
These we identify as the sons of Caleb. The sons of Hur, the firstborn of Ephrathah, we identify
as Shobal the father of Kiriath-jearim,
51
Salma the father of Bethlehem and Hareph the father of Beth-gader.
52
Shobal the father of Kiriath-jearim had sons: Haroeh, half of the Manahathites,
53
and the families of Kiriath-jearim: the Ithrites, the Puthites, the Shumathites and the Mishraites;
from these came the Zorathites and the Eshtaolites.
54
The sons of Salma we identify as Bethlehem and the Netophathites, Atroth-beth-joab and half
of the Manahathites, the Zorites.
55
The families of scribes who lived at Jabez we identify as the Tirathites, the Shimeathites and
the Sucathites. Those we identify as the Kenites who came from Hammath, the father of the
house of Rechab.

1 Chronicles 3

NASB E-Prime DFM

Family of David
1
Now these we identify as the sons of David who became born to him in Hebron: the firstborn
we identify as Amnon, by Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; the second we identify as Daniel, by Abigail
the Carmelitess;
2
the third we identify as Absalom the son of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; the
fourth we identify as Adonijah the son of Haggith;
3
the fifth we identify as Shephatiah, by Abital; the sixth we identify as Ithream, by his wife
Eglah.
4
Six began their nativity in Hebron, and there he reigned seven years and six months. And in
Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years.
5
These became born to him in Jerusalem: Shimea, Shobab, Nathan and Solomon, four, by Bath-
shua the daughter of Ammiel;
6
and Ibhar, Elishama, Eliphelet,
7
Nogah, Nepheg and Japhia,
8
Elishama, Eliada and Eliphelet, nine.
9
All these we identify as the sons of David, besides the sons of the concubines; and Tamar we
identify as their sister.
10
Now Solomon's son had the name of Rehoboam, Abijah we identify as his son, Asa his son,
Jehoshaphat his son,
11
Joram his son, Ahaziah his son, Joash his son,
12
Amaziah his son, Azariah his son, Jotham his son,
13
Ahaz his son, Hezekiah his son, Manasseh his son,
14
Amon his son, Josiah his son.
15
The sons of Josiah we identify Johanan the firstborn, and the second we identify as Jehoiakim,
the third Zedekiah, the fourth Shallum.
16
The sons of Jehoiakim we identify as Jeconiah his son, Zedekiah his son.
17
The sons of Jeconiah, the prisoner, we identify as Shealtiel his son,
18
and Malchiram, Pedaiah, Shenazzar, Jekamiah, Hoshama and Nedabiah.
19
The sons of Pedaiah we identify as Zerubbabel and Shimei. And the sons of Zerubbabel we
identify as Meshullam and Hananiah, and Shelomith we identify as their sister;
20
and Hashubah, Ohel, Berechiah, Hasadiah and Jushab-hesed, five.
21
The sons of Hananiah we identify as Pelatiah and Jeshaiah, the sons of Rephaiah, the sons of
Arnan, the sons of Obadiah, the sons of Shecaniah.
22
The descendants of Shecaniah we identify as Shemaiah, and the sons of Shemaiah: Hattush,
Igal, Bariah, Neariah and Shaphat, six.
23
The sons of Neariah we identify as Elioenai, Hizkiah and Azrikam, three.
24
The sons of Elioenai we identify as Hodaviah, Eliashib, Pelaiah, Akkub, Johanan, Delaiah and
Anani, seven.
1 Chronicles 4

NASB E-Prime DFM

Line of Hur, Asher


1
The sons of Judah we identify as Perez, Hezron, Carmi, Hur and Shobal.
2
Reaiah the son of Shobal became the father of Jahath, and Jahath became the father of Ahumai
and Lahad. These we identify as the families of the Zorathites.
3
These we identify as the sons of Etam: Jezreel, Ishma and Idbash; and their sister had the name
of Hazzelelponi.
4
Penuel we identify as the father of Gedor, and Ezer the father of Hushah. These we identify as
the sons of Hur, the firstborn of Ephrathah, the father of Bethlehem.
5
Ashhur, the father of Tekoa, had two wives, Helah and Naarah.
6
Naarah bore him Ahuzzam, Hepher, Temeni and Haahashtari. These we identify as the sons of
Naarah.
7
The sons of Helah we identify as Zereth, Izhar and Ethnan.
8
Koz became the father of Anub and Zobebah, and the families of Aharhel the son of Harum.
9
Jabez behaved more honorably than his brothers, and his mother named him Jabez saying,
"Because I bore him with pain."
10
Now Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, "Oh that You would bless me indeed and enlarge
my border, and that Your hand might remain with me, and that You would keep me from harm
that it may not pain me!" And God granted him what he requested.
11
Chelub the brother of Shuhah became the father of Mehir, who we identify as the father of
Eshton.
12
Eshton became the father of Beth-rapha and Paseah, and Tehinnah the father of Ir-nahash.
These we identify as the men of Recah.
13
Now the sons of Kenaz we identify as Othniel and Seraiah. And the sons of Othniel we identify
as Hathath and Meonothai.
14
Meonothai became the father of Ophrah, and Seraiah became the father of Joab the father of
Ge-harashim, for they served as craftsmen.
15
The sons of Caleb the son of Jephunneh we identify as Iru, Elah and Naam; and Elah had a son
named Kenaz.
16
The sons of Jehallelel we identify as Ziph and Ziphah, Tiria and Asarel.
17
The sons of Ezrah we identify as Jether, Mered, Epher and Jalon. (And these we identify as the
sons of Bithia the daughter of Pharaoh, whom Mered took) and she conceived and bore Miriam,
Shammai and Ishbah the father of Eshtemoa.
18
His Jewish wife bore Jered the father of Gedor, and Heber the father of Soco, and Jekuthiel the
father of Zanoah.
19
The sons of the wife of Hodiah, the sister of Naham, we identify as the fathers of Keilah the
Garmite and Eshtemoa the Maacathite.
20
The sons of Shimon we identify as Amnon and Rinnah, Benhanan and Tilon. And the sons of
Ishi we identify as Zoheth and Ben-zoheth.
21
The sons of Shelah the son of Judah we identify as Er the father of Lecah and Laadah the father
of Mareshah, and the families of the house of the linen workers at Beth-ashbea;
22
and Jokim, the men of Cozeba, Joash, Saraph, who ruled in Moab, and Jashubi-lehem. And the
records seem ancient.
23
These served as the potters and the inhabitants of Netaim and Gederah; they lived there with
the king for his work.

Descendants of Simeon
24
The sons of Simeon we identify as Nemuel and Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, Shaul;
25
Shallum his son, Mibsam his son, Mishma his son.
26
The sons of Mishma we identify as Hammuel his son, Zaccur his son, Shimei his son.
27
Now Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters; but his brothers did not have many sons, nor
did all their family multiply like the sons of Judah.
28
They lived at Beersheba, Moladah and Hazar-shual,
29
at Bilhah, Ezem, Tolad,
30
Bethuel, Hormah, Ziklag,
31
Beth-marcaboth, Hazar-susim, Beth-biri and Shaaraim. These we identify as their cities until
the reign of David.
32
Their villages we identify as Etam, Ain, Rimmon, Tochen and Ashan, five cities;
33
and all their villages that surrounded the same cities as far as Baal. These they considered their
settlements, and they have their genealogy.
34
Meshobab and Jamlech and Joshah the son of Amaziah,
35
and Joel and Jehu the son of Joshibiah, the son of Seraiah, the son of Asiel,
36
and Elioenai, Jaakobah, Jeshohaiah, Asaiah, Adiel, Jesimiel, Benaiah,
37
Ziza the son of Shiphi, the son of Allon, the son of Jedaiah, the son of Shimri, the son of
Shemaiah;
38
these mentioned by name served as leaders in their families; and their fathers' houses increased
greatly.
39
They went to the entrance of Gedor, even to the east side of the valley, to seek pasture for their
flocks.
40
They found rich and good pasture, and the land seemed broad and quiet and peaceful; for those
who lived there formerly consisted of Hamites.
41
These, recorded by name, came in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and attacked their tents
and the Meunites who lived there, and destroyed them utterly to this day, and lived in their place,
because they had pasture there for their flocks.
42
From them, from the sons of Simeon, five hundred men went to Mount Seir, with Pelatiah,
Neariah, Rephaiah and Uzziel, the sons of Ishi, as their leaders.
43
They destroyed the remnant of the Amalekites who escaped, and have lived there to this day.

1 Chronicles 5

NASB E-Prime DFM

Genealogy from Reuben


1
Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel (for people recognized him as the firstborn, but
because he defiled his father's bed, his birthright fell to the sons of Joseph the son of Israel; so
that he does not appear in the genealogy according to the birthright.
2
Though Judah prevailed over his brothers, and from him came the leader, yet the birthright
belonged to Joseph),
3
the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel we identify as Hanoch and Pallu, Hezron and Carmi.
4
The sons of Joel we identify as Shemaiah his son, Gog his son, Shimei his son,
5
Micah his son, Reaiah his son, Baal his son,
6
Beerah his son, whom Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria carried away into exile; he served as
leader of the Reubenites.
7
His kinsmen by their families, in the genealogy of their generations, included Jeiel the chief,
then Zechariah
8
and Bela the son of Azaz, the son of Shema, the son of Joel, who lived in Aroer, even to Nebo
and Baal-meon.
9
To the east he settled as far as the entrance of the wilderness from the river Euphrates, because
their cattle had increased in the land of Gilead.
10
In the days of Saul they made war with the Hagrites, who fell by their hand, so that they
occupied their tents throughout all the land east of Gilead.
11
Now the sons of Gad lived opposite them in the land of Bashan as far as Salecah.
12
Joel served as the chief and Shapham the second, then Janai and Shaphat in Bashan.
13
Their kinsmen of their fathers' households we identify as Michael, Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai,
Jacan, Zia and Eber, seven.
14
These we identify as the sons of Abihail, the son of Huri, the son of Jaroah, the son of Gilead,
the son of Michael, the son of Jeshishai, the son of Jahdo, the son of Buz;
15
Ahi the son of Abdiel, the son of Guni, served as head of their fathers' households.
16
They lived in Gilead, in Bashan and in its towns, and in all the pasture lands of Sharon, as far as
their borders.
17
All of these appeared in the genealogies in the days of Jotham king of Judah and in the days of
Jeroboam king of Israel.
18
The sons of Reuben and the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, consisting of valiant men,
men who bore shield and sword and shot with bow and proved skillful in battle, numbered
44,760, who went to war.
19
They made war against the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish and Nodab.
20
They received helped against them, and the Hagrites and all who lived with them fell into their
hand; for they cried out to God in the battle, and He answered their prayers because they trusted
in Him.
21
They took away their cattle: their 50,000 camels, 250,000 sheep, 2,000 donkeys; and 100,000
men.
22
For many fell slain, because the war emanated from God. And they settled in their place until
the exile.
23
Now the sons of the half-tribe of Manasseh lived in the land; from Bashan to Baal-hermon and
Senir and Mount Hermon they grew numerous.
24
These served as the heads of their fathers' households, even Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah,
Hodaviah and Jahdiel, mighty men of valor, famous men, heads of their fathers' households.
25
But they acted treacherously against the God of their fathers and played the harlot after the
gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before them.
26
So the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul, king of Assyria, even the spirit of Tilgath-
pilneser king of Assyria, and he carried them away into exile, namely the Reubenites, the Gadites
and the half-tribe of Manasseh, and brought them to Halah, Habor, Hara and to the river of
Gozan, to this day.

1 Chronicles 6

NASB E-Prime DFM

Genealogy: The Priestly Line


1
The sons of Levi we identify as Gershon, Kohath and Merari.
2
The sons of Kohath we identify as Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel.
3
The children of Amram we identify as Aaron, Moses and Miriam. And the sons of Aaron we
identify as Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.
4
Eleazar became the father of Phinehas, and Phinehas became the father of Abishua,
5
and Abishua became the father of Bukki, and Bukki became the father of Uzzi,
6
and Uzzi became the father of Zerahiah, and Zerahiah became the father of Meraioth,
7
Meraioth became the father of Amariah, and Amariah became the father of Ahitub,
8
and Ahitub became the father of Zadok, and Zadok became the father of Ahimaaz,
9
and Ahimaaz became the father of Azariah, and Azariah became the father of Johanan,
10
and Johanan became the father of Azariah (he served as the priest in the house which Solomon
built in Jerusalem),
11
and Azariah became the father of Amariah, and Amariah became the father of Ahitub,
12
and Ahitub became the father of Zadok, and Zadok became the father of Shallum,
13
and Shallum became the father of Hilkiah, and Hilkiah became the father of Azariah,
14
and Azariah became the father of Seraiah, and Seraiah became the father of Jehozadak;
15
and Jehozadak went along when the LORD carried Judah and Jerusalem away into exile by
Nebuchadnezzar.
16
The sons of Levi we identify as Gershom, Kohath and Merari.
17
These are the names of the sons of Gershom: Libni and Shimei.
18
The sons of Kohath we identify as Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel.
19
The sons of Merari we identify as Mahli and Mushi. And these we identify as the families of
the Levites according to their fathers' households.
20
Of Gershom: Libni his son, Jahath his son, Zimmah his son,
21
Joah his son, Iddo his son, Zerah his son, Jeatherai his son.
22
The sons of Kohath we identify as Amminadab his son, Korah his son, Assir his son,
23
Elkanah his son, Ebiasaph his son and Assir his son,
24
Tahath his son, Uriel his son, Uzziah his son and Shaul his son.
25
The sons of Elkanah we identify as Amasai and Ahimoth.
26
As for Elkanah, the sons of Elkanah we identify as Zophai his son and Nahath his son,
27
Eliab his son, Jeroham his son, Elkanah his son.
28
The sons of Samuel we identify as Joel the firstborn, and Abijah the second.
29
The sons of Merari we identify as Mahli, Libni his son, Shimei his son, Uzzah his son,
30
Shimea his son, Haggiah his son, Asaiah his son.
31
Now these David appointed over the service of song in the house of the LORD, after the ark
rested there.
32
They ministered with song before the tabernacle of the tent of meeting, until Solomon had built
the house of the LORD in Jerusalem; and they served in their office according to their order.
33
These served with their sons: From the sons of the Kohathites we identify as Heman the singer,
the son of Joel, the son of Samuel,
34
the son of Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Eliel, the son of Toah,
35
the son of Zuph, the son of Elkanah, the son of Mahath, the son of Amasai,
36
the son of Elkanah, the son of Joel, the son of Azariah, the son of Zephaniah,
37
the son of Tahath, the son of Assir, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah,
38
the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, the son of Israel.
39
Heman's brother Asaph stood at his right hand, even Asaph the son of Berechiah, the son of
Shimea,
40
the son of Michael, the son of Baaseiah, the son of Malchijah,
41
the son of Ethni, the son of Zerah, the son of Adaiah,
42
the son of Ethan, the son of Zimmah, the son of Shimei,
43
the son of Jahath, the son of Gershom, the son of Levi.
44
On the left hand we identify their kinsmen the sons of Merari: Ethan the son of Kishi, the son
of Abdi, the son of Malluch,
45
the son of Hashabiah, the son of Amaziah, the son of Hilkiah,
46
the son of Amzi, the son of Bani, the son of Shemer,
47
the son of Mahli, the son of Mushi, the son of Merari, the son of Levi.
48
Their kinsmen the Levites received appointment for all the service of the tabernacle of the
house of God.
49
But Aaron and his sons offered on the altar of burnt offering and on the altar of incense, for all
the work of the most holy place, and to make atonement for Israel, according to all that Moses
the servant of God had commanded.
50
These we identify as the sons of Aaron: Eleazar his son, Phinehas his son, Abishua his son,
51
Bukki his son, Uzzi his son, Zerahiah his son,
52
Meraioth his son, Amariah his son, Ahitub his son,
53
Zadok his son, Ahimaaz his son.
54
Now these we identify as their settlements according to their camps within their borders. To the
sons of Aaron of the families of the Kohathites (for theirs became the first lot),
55
to them they gave Hebron in the land of Judah and its pasture lands around it;
56
but the fields of the city and its villages, they gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh.
57
To the sons of Aaron they gave the following cities of refuge: Hebron, Libnah also with its
pasture lands, Jattir, Eshtemoa with its pasture lands,
58
Hilen with its pasture lands, Debir with its pasture lands,
59
Ashan with its pasture lands and Beth-shemesh with its pasture lands;
60
and from the tribe of Benjamin: Geba with its pasture lands, Allemeth with its pasture lands,
and Anathoth with its pasture lands. All their cities throughout their families consisted of thirteen
cities.
61
Then to the rest of the sons of Kohath they gave by lot, from the family of the tribe, from the
half-tribe, the half of Manasseh, ten cities.
62
To the sons of Gershom, according to their families, they received from the tribe of Issachar
and from the tribe of Asher, the tribe of Naphtali, and the tribe of Manasseh, thirteen cities in
Bashan.
63
To the sons of Merari they gave by lot, according to their families, from the tribe of Reuben,
the tribe of Gad and the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities.
64
So the sons of Israel gave to the Levites the cities with their pasture lands.
65
They gave by lot from the tribe of the sons of Judah, the tribe of the sons of Simeon and the
tribe of the sons of Benjamin, these cities which they have mentioned by name.
66
Now some of the families of the sons of Kohath had cities of their territory from the tribe of
Ephraim.
67
They gave to them the following cities of refuge: Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim with
its pasture lands, Gezer also with its pasture lands,
68
Jokmeam with its pasture lands, Beth-horon with its pasture lands,
69
Aijalon with its pasture lands and Gath-rimmon with its pasture lands;
70
and from the half-tribe of Manasseh: Aner with its pasture lands and Bileam with its pasture
lands, for the rest of the family of the sons of Kohath.
71
To the sons of Gershom they gave, from the family of the half-tribe of Manasseh: Golan in
Bashan with its pasture lands and Ashtaroth with its pasture lands;
72
and from the tribe of Issachar: Kedesh with its pasture lands, Daberath with its pasture lands
73
and Ramoth with its pasture lands, Anem with its pasture lands;
74
and from the tribe of Asher: Mashal with its pasture lands, Abdon with its pasture lands,
75
Hukok with its pasture lands and Rehob with its pasture lands;
76
and from the tribe of Naphtali: Kedesh in Galilee with its pasture lands, Hammon with its
pasture lands and Kiriathaim with its pasture lands.
77
To the rest of the Levites, the sons of Merari, they gave, from the tribe of Zebulun: Rimmono
with its pasture lands, Tabor with its pasture lands;
78
and beyond the Jordan at Jericho, on the east side of the Jordan, they gave them, from the tribe
of Reuben: Bezer in the wilderness with its pasture lands, Jahzah with its pasture lands,
79
Kedemoth with its pasture lands and Mephaath with its pasture lands;
80
and from the tribe of Gad: Ramoth in Gilead with its pasture lands, Mahanaim with its pasture
lands,
81
Heshbon with its pasture lands and Jazer with its pasture lands.

1 Chronicles 7

NASB E-Prime DFM


Genealogy from Issachar
1
Now the sons of Issachar we count four: Tola, Puah, Jashub and Shimron.
2
The sons of Tola we identify as Uzzi, Rephaiah, Jeriel, Jahmai, Ibsam and Samuel, heads of
their fathers' households. The sons of Tola served as mighty men of valor in their generations;
their number in the days of David reached 22,600.
3
Uzzi’s son had the name of Izrahiah. And the sons of Izrahiah we identify as Michael, Obadiah,
Joel, Isshiah; all five of them served as chief men.
4
With them by their generations according to their fathers' households numbered 36,000 troops of
the army for war, for they had many wives and sons.
5
Their relatives among all the families of Issachar proved mighty men of valor, enrolled by
genealogy, in all 87,000.

Descendants of Benjamin
6
The sons of Benjamin we count as three: Bela and Becher and Jediael.
7
The sons of Bela numbered five: Ezbon, Uzzi, Uzziel, Jerimoth and Iri. They served as heads of
fathers' households, mighty men of valor, and numbered 22,034 enrolled by genealogy.
8
The sons of Becher we identify as Zemirah, Joash, Eliezer, Elioenai, Omri, Jeremoth, Abijah,
Anathoth and Alemeth. All these we identify as the sons of Becher.
9
They became enrolled by genealogy, according to their generations, heads of their fathers'
households, 20,200 mighty men of valor.
10
Jediael had a son named Bilhan. And the sons of Bilhan we identify as Jeush, Benjamin, Ehud,
Chenaanah, Zethan, Tarshish and Ahishahar.
11
All these we identify as sons of Jediael, according to the heads of their fathers' households,
17,200 mighty men of valor, who would go out with the army to war.
12
Shuppim and Huppim we identify as the sons of Ir; Hushim we identify as the son of Aher.

Sons of Naphtali
13
The sons of Naphtali we identify as Jahziel, Guni, Jezer, and Shallum, the sons of Bilhah.

Descendants of Manasseh
14
The sons of Manasseh we identify as Asriel, whom his Aramean concubine bore; she bore
Machir the father of Gilead.
15
Machir took a wife for Huppim and Shuppim, whose sister had the name of Maacah. And the
second had the name of Zelophehad, and Zelophehad had daughters.
16
Maacah the wife of Machir bore a son, and she named him Peresh; and the brother had the
name of Sheresh, and his sons we identify as Ulam and Rakem.
17
Ulam’s son had the name of Bedan. These we identify as the sons of Gilead the son of Machir,
the son of Manasseh.
18
His sister Hammolecheth bore Ishhod and Abiezer and Mahlah.
19
The sons of Shemida we identify as Ahian and Shechem and Likhi and Aniam.

Descendants of Ephraim
20
The sons of Ephraim we identify as Shuthelah and Bered his son, Tahath his son, Eleadah his
son, Tahath his son,
21
Zabad his son, Shuthelah his son, and Ezer and Elead whom the men of Gath who had become
born in the land killed, because they came down to take their livestock.
22
Their father Ephraim mourned many days, and his relatives came to comfort him.
23
Then he went in to his wife, and she conceived and bore a son, and he named him Beriah,
because misfortune had come upon his house.
24
His daughter had the name of Sheerah, who built lower and upper Beth-horon, also Uzzen-
sheerah.
25
His son had the name of Rephah along with Resheph, Telah his son, Tahan his son,
26
Ladan his son, Ammihud his son, Elishama his son,
27
Non his son and Joshua his son.
28
Their possessions and settlements consisted of Bethel with its towns, and to the east Naaran,
and to the west Gezer with its towns, and Shechem with its towns as far as Ayyah with its towns,
29
and along the borders of the sons of Manasseh, Beth-shean with its towns, Taanach with its
towns, Megiddo with its towns, Dor with its towns. In these lived the sons of Joseph the son of
Israel.
Descendants of Asher
30
The sons of Asher we identify as Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi and Beriah, and Serah their sister.
31
The sons of Beriah we identify as Heber and Malchiel, who had Birzaith as a son.
32
Heber became the father of Japhlet, Shomer and Hotham, and Shua their sister.
33
The sons of Japhlet we identify as Pasach, Bimhal and Ashvath. These consisted of Japhlets
sons.
34
The sons of Shemer we identify as Ahi and Rohgah, Jehubbah and Aram.
35
The sons of his brother Helem we identify as Zophah, Imna, Shelesh and Amal.
36
The sons of Zophah we identify as Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri and Imrah,
37
Bezer, Hod, Shamma, Shilshah, Ithran and Beera.
38
The sons of Jether we identify as Jephunneh, Pispa and Ara.
39
The sons of Ulla we identify as Arah, Hanniel and Rizia.
40
All these we identify as the sons of Asher, heads of the fathers' houses, choice and mighty men
of valor, heads of the princes. And the number of them enrolled by genealogy for service in war
consisted of 26,000 men

1 Chronicles 8

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Genealogy from Benjamin


1
And Benjamin became the father of Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second, Aharah the third,
2
Nohah the fourth and Rapha the fifth.
3
Bela had sons: Addar, Gera, Abihud,
4
Abishua, Naaman, Ahoah,
5
Gera, Shephuphan and Huram.
6
These we identify as the sons of Ehud: these served as the heads of fathers' households of the
inhabitants of Geba, and they carried them into exile to Manahath,
7
namely, Naaman, Ahijah and Gera--he carried them into exile; and he became the father of Uzza
and Ahihud.
8
Shaharaim became the father of children in the country of Moab after he had sent away Hushim
and Baara his wives.
9
By Hodesh his wife he became the father of Jobab, Zibia, Mesha, Malcam,
10
Jeuz, Sachia, Mirmah. These we identify as his sons, heads of fathers' households.
11
By Hushim he became the father of Abitub and Elpaal.
12
The sons of Elpaal we identify as Eber, Misham, and Shemed, who built Ono and Lod, with its
towns;
13
and Beriah and Shema, who served as heads of fathers' households of the inhabitants of Aijalon,
who put to flight the inhabitants of Gath;
14
and Ahio, Shashak and Jeremoth.
15
Zebadiah, Arad, Eder,
16
Michael, Ishpah and Joha we identify as the sons of Beriah.
17
Zebadiah, Meshullam, Hizki, Heber,
18
Ishmerai, Izliah and Jobab we identify as the sons of Elpaal.
19
Jakim, Zichri, Zabdi,
20
Elienai, Zillethai, Eliel,
21
Adaiah, Beraiah and Shimrath we identify as the sons of Shimei.
22
Ishpan, Eber, Eliel,
23
Abdon, Zichri, Hanan,
24
Hananiah, Elam, Anthothijah,
25
Iphdeiah and Penuel we identify as the sons of Shashak.
26
Shamsherai, Shehariah, Athaliah,
27
Jaareshiah, Elijah and Zichri we identify as the sons of Jeroham.
28
These served as heads of the fathers' households according to their generations, chief men who
lived in Jerusalem.
29
Now in Gibeon, Jeiel, the father of Gibeon lived, and his wife had the name of Maacah;
30
and his firstborn son we identify as Abdon, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Nadab,
31
Gedor, Ahio and Zecher.
32
Mikloth became the father of Shimeah. And they also lived with their relatives in Jerusalem
opposite their other relatives.

Genealogy from King Saul


33
Ner became the father of Kish, and Kish became the father of Saul, and Saul became the father
of Jonathan, Malchi-shua, Abinadab and Eshbaal.
34
The son of Jonathan we identify as Merib-baal, and Merib-baal became the father of Micah.
35
The sons of Micah we identify as Pithon, Melech, Tarea and Ahaz.
36
Ahaz became the father of Jehoaddah, and Jehoaddah became the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth
and Zimri; and Zimri became the father of Moza.
37
Moza became the father of Binea; Raphah we identify as his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son.
38
Azel had six sons, and they had the names of: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah
and Hanan. All these we identify as the sons of Azel.
39
The sons of Eshek his brother we identify as Ulam his firstborn, Jeush the second and Eliphelet
the third.
40
The sons of Ulam we identify as mighty men of valor, archers, and had many sons and
grandsons, 150 of them. All these we identify as the sons of Benjamin.

1 Chronicles 9

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People of Jerusalem
1
So all Israel became enrolled by genealogies; and behold, we read them in the Book of the
Kings of Israel. And Judah fell into exile to Babylon for their unfaithfulness.
2
Now the first who lived in their possessions in their cities consisted of Israel, the priests, the
Levites and the temple servants.
3
Some of the sons of Judah, of the sons of Benjamin and of the sons of Ephraim and Manasseh
lived in Jerusalem:
4
Uthai the son of Ammihud, the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, from the sons of
Perez the son of Judah.
5
From the Shilonites we identify as Asaiah the firstborn and his sons.
6
From the sons of Zerah we identify as Jeuel and their relatives, 690 of them.
7
From the sons of Benjamin we identify as Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Hodaviah, the
son of Hassenuah,
8
and Ibneiah the son of Jeroham, and Elah the son of Uzzi, the son of Michri, and Meshullam the
son of Shephatiah, the son of Reuel, the son of Ibnijah;
9
and their relatives according to their generations, 956. All these served as heads of fathers'
households according to their fathers' houses.
10
From the priests we identify Jedaiah, Jehoiarib, Jachin,
11
and Azariah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth,
the son of Ahitub, the chief officer of the house of God;
12
and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malchijah, and Maasai the son of
Adiel, the son of Jahzerah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Meshillemith, the son of Immer;
13
and their relatives, heads of their fathers' households, 1,760 very able men for the work of the
service of the house of God.
14
Of the Levites we identify as Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of
Hashabiah, of the sons of Merari;
15
and Bakbakkar, Heresh and Galal and Mattaniah the son of Mica, the son of Zichri, the son of
Asaph,
16
and Obadiah the son of Shemaiah, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun, and Berechiah the son
of Asa, the son of Elkanah, who lived in the villages of the Netophathites.
17
Now the gatekeepers we identify as Shallum and Akkub and Talmon and Ahiman and their
relatives (Shallum the chief
18
stationed until now at the king's gate to the east). These served as the gatekeepers for the camp
of the sons of Levi.
19
Shallum the son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his relatives of his father's
house, the Korahites, presided over the work of the service, keepers of the thresholds of the tent;
and their fathers had presided over the camp of the LORD, keepers of the entrance.
20
Phinehas the son of Eleazar served as ruler over them previously, and the LORD remained with
him.
21
Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah served as gatekeeper of the entrance of the tent of meeting.
22
All these who they had chosen to serve as gatekeepers at the thresholds numbered 212. These
became enrolled by genealogy in their villages, whom David and Samuel the seer appointed in
their office of trust.
23
So they and their sons had charge of the gates of the house of the LORD, even the house of the
tent, as guards.
24
The gatekeepers served on the four sides, to the east, west, north and south.
25
Their relatives in their villages would come in every seven days from time to time to remain
with them;
26
for the four chief gatekeepers, namely Levites, served in an office of trust, and served over the
chambers and over the treasuries in the house of God.
27
They spent the night around the house of God, because the watch had become committed to
them; and they found themselves in charge of opening it morning by morning.
28
Now some of them had charge of the utensils of service, for they counted them when they
brought them in and when they took them out.
29
Some of them also had received appointment over the furniture and over all the utensils of the
sanctuary and over the fine flour and the wine and the oil and the frankincense and the spices.
30
Some of the sons of the priests prepared the mixing of the spices.
31
Mattithiah, one of the Levites, Shallum the Korahite’s firstborn, had the responsibility over the
things which they baked in pans.
32
Some of their relatives of the sons of the Kohathites presided over the showbread to prepare it
every sabbath.
33
Now these we identify as the singers, heads of fathers' households of the Levites, who lived in
the chambers of the temple free from other service; for they engaged themselves in their work
day and night.
34
These served as heads of fathers' households of the Levites according to their generations, chief
men, who lived in Jerusalem.

Ancestry and Descendants of Saul


35
In Gibeon Jeiel the father of Gibeon lived, and his wife had the name of Maacah,
36
and his firstborn son we identify as Abdon, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab,
37
Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah and Mikloth.
38
Mikloth became the father of Shimeam. And they also lived with their relatives in Jerusalem
opposite their other relatives.
39
Ner became the father of Kish, and Kish became the father of Saul, and Saul became the father
of Jonathan, Malchi-shua, Abinadab and Eshbaal.
40
The son of Jonathan Merib-baal had a son named Jonathan and a son named Micah.
41
The sons of Micah we identify as Pithon, Melech, Tahrea and Ahaz.
42
Ahaz became the father of Jarah, and Jarah became the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth and Zimri;
and Zimri became the father of Moza,
43
and Moza became the father of Binea and Rephaiah his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son.
44
Azel had six sons who had the names: Azrikam, Bocheru and Ishmael and Sheariah and
Obadiah and Hanan. These we identify as the sons of Azel.

1 Chronicles 10

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Defeat and Death of Saul and His Sons


1
Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled before the Philistines and
fell slain on Mount Gilboa.
2
The Philistines closely pursued Saul and his sons, and the Philistines struck down Jonathan,
Abinadab and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul.
3
The battle became heavy against Saul, and the archers overtook him; and the archers wounded
him.
4
Then Saul said to his armor bearer, "Draw your sword and thrust me through with it, otherwise
these uncircumcised will come and abuse me." But his armor bearer would not, for he felt greatly
afraid. Therefore Saul took his sword and fell on it.
5
When his armor bearer saw that Saul had died, he likewise fell on his sword and died.
6
Thus Saul died with his three sons, and all those of his house died together.
7
When all the men of Israel in the valley saw that they had fled, and that Saul and his sons had
died, they forsook their cities and fled; and the Philistines came and lived in them.
8
It came about the next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and
his sons fallen on Mount Gilboa.
9
So they stripped him and took his head and his armor and sent messengers around the land of
the Philistines to carry the good news to their idols and to the people.
10
They put his armor in the house of their gods and fastened his head in the house of Dagon.

Jabesh-gilead's Tribute to Saul


11
When all Jabesh-gilead heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul,
12
all the valiant men arose and took away the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons and brought
them to Jabesh, and they buried their bones under the oak in Jabesh, and fasted seven days.
13
So Saul died for his trespass which he committed against the LORD, because of the word of the
LORD which he did not keep; and also because he asked counsel of a medium, making inquiry
of it,
14
and did not inquire of the LORD. Therefore He killed him and turned the kingdom to David the
son of Jesse.

1 Chronicles 11

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David Made King over All Israel
1
Then all Israel gathered to David at Hebron and said, "Behold, we consider ourselves your bone
and your flesh.
2
"In times past, even when Saul became king, you led out and brought in Israel; and the LORD
your God said to you, 'You shall shepherd My people Israel, and you shall serve as prince over
My people Israel.'"
3
So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David made a covenant with them in
Hebron before the LORD; and they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the
LORD through Samuel.

Jerusalem, Capital City


4
Then David and all Israel went to Jerusalem (namely, Jebus); and the Jebusites, the inhabitants
of the land, lived there.
5
The inhabitants of Jebus said to David, "You shall not enter here." Nevertheless David captured
the stronghold of Zion (namely, the city of David).
6
Now David had said, "Whoever strikes down a Jebusite first shall become chief and
commander." Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first, so he became chief.
7
Then David dwelt in the stronghold; therefore it received the name the city of David.
8
He built the city all around, from the Millo even to the surrounding area; and Joab repaired the
rest of the city.
9
David became greater and greater, for the LORD of hosts dwelled with him.

David's Mighty Men


10
Now these serve as the heads of the mighty men whom David had, who gave him strong
support in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of the
LORD concerning Israel.
11
These constitute the list of the mighty men whom David had: Jashobeam, the son of a
Hachmonite, the chief of the thirty; he lifted up his spear against three hundred whom he killed at
one time.
12
After him came Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, who served as one of the three mighty
men.
13
He served with David at Pasdammim when the Philistines gathered together there to battle, and
there he found a plot of ground full of barley; and the people fled before the Philistines.
14
They took their stand in the midst of the plot and defended it, and struck down the Philistines;
and the LORD saved them by a great victory.
15
Now three of the thirty chief men went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam,
while the army of the Philistines camped in the valley of Rephaim.
16
David remained then in the stronghold, while the garrison of the Philistines lay in Bethlehem.
17
David had a craving and said, "Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of
Bethlehem, which stands by the gate!"
18
So the three broke through the camp of the Philistines and drew water from the well of
Bethlehem which stood by the gate, and took it and brought it to David; nevertheless David
would not drink it, but poured it out to the LORD;
19
and he said, "May it stay from me before my God that I should do this. Shall I drink the blood
of these men who went at the risk of their lives? For at the risk of their lives they brought it."
Therefore he would not drink it. These things the three mighty men did.
20
As for Abshai the brother of Joab, he served as chief of the thirty, and he swung his spear
against three hundred and killed them; and he had a name as well as the thirty.
21
Of the three in the second rank he had the most honor and became their commander; however,
he did not attain to the first three.
22
Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, mighty in deeds, struck down
the two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion inside a pit on a snowy day.
23
He killed an Egyptian, a man of great stature five cubits tall. Now in the Egyptian's hand he
held a spear like a weaver's beam, but he went down to him with a club and snatched the spear
from the Egyptian's hand and killed him with his own spear.
24
These things Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did, and had a name as well as the three mighty men.
25
Behold, he received honor among the thirty, but he did not attain to the three; and David
appointed him over his guard.
26
Now the mighty men of the armies we identify as Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son
of Dodo of Bethlehem,
27
Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite,
28
Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Anathothite,
29
Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite,
30
Maharai the Netophathite, Heled the son of Baanah the Netophathite,
31
Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the sons of Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite,
32
Hurai of the brooks of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite,
33
Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite,
34
the sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Shagee the Hararite,
35
Ahiam the son of Sacar the Hararite, Eliphal the son of Ur,
36
Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,
37
Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai the son of Ezbai,
38
Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the son of Hagri,
39
Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Berothite, the armor bearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah,
40
Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,
41
Uriah the Hittite, Zabad the son of Ahlai,
42
Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite, a chief of the Reubenites, and thirty with him,
43
Hanan the son of Maacah and Joshaphat the Mithnite,
44
Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jeiel the sons of Hotham the Aroerite,
45
Jediael the son of Shimri and Joha his brother, the Tizite,
46
Eliel the Mahavite and Jeribai and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite,
47
Eliel and Obed and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.

1 Chronicles 12

NASB E-Prime DFM

David's Supporters in Ziklag


1
Now these came to David at Ziklag, while he felt still restricted because of Saul the son of Kish;
and they served among the mighty men who helped him in war.
2
They equipped themselves with bows, using both the right hand and the left to sling stones and
to shoot arrows from the bow; we knew them as Saul's kinsmen from Benjamin.
3
The chief we identify as Ahiezer, then Joash, the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; and Jeziel and
Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth, and Beracah and Jehu the Anathothite,
4
and Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the thirty, and over the thirty. Then Jeremiah,
Jahaziel, Johanan, Jozabad the Gederathite,
5
Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, Shephatiah the Haruphite,
6
Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, Jashobeam, the Korahites,
7
and Joelah and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham of Gedor.
8
From the Gadites there came over to David in the stronghold in the wilderness, mighty men of
valor, men trained for war, who could handle shield and spear, and whose faces resembled the
faces of lions, and they seemed as swift as the gazelles on the mountains.
9
Ezer became the first, Obadiah the second, Eliab the third,
10
Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth,
11
Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh,
12
Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth,
13
Jeremiah the tenth, Machbannai the eleventh.
14
These of the sons of Gad became captains of the army; he who seemed least proved equal to a
hundred and the greatest to a thousand.
15
These we identify as the ones who crossed the Jordan in the first month when it overflowed all
its banks and they put to flight all those in the valleys, both to the east and to the west.
16
Then some of the sons of Benjamin and Judah came to the stronghold to David.
17
David went out to meet them, and said to them, "If you come peacefully to me to help me, my
heart shall unite with you; but if to betray me to my adversaries, since I have done no wrong in
my hands, may the God of our fathers look on it and decide."
18
Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, who served as the chief of the thirty, and he said, "We
belong to you, O David, and with you, O son of Jesse! Peace, peace to you, and peace to him
who helps you; indeed, your God helps you!" Then David received them and made them captains
of the band.
19
From Manasseh also some defected to David when he would go to battle with the Philistines
against Saul. But they did not help them, for the lords of the Philistines after consultation sent
him away, saying, "At the cost of our heads he may defect to his master Saul."
20
As he went to Ziklag there defected to him from Manasseh: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael,
Jozabad, Elihu and Zillethai, captains of thousands who belonged to Manasseh.
21
They helped David against the band of raiders, for they proved all mighty men of valor, and
served as captains in the army.
22
For day by day men came to David to help him, until there came a great army like the army of
God.

Supporters Gathered at Hebron


23
Now these we count as the numbers of the divisions equipped for war, who came to David at
Hebron, to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of the LORD.
24
The sons of Judah who bore shield and spear numbered 6,800, equipped for war.
25
Of the sons of Simeon, mighty men of valor for war, 7,100.
26
Of the sons of Levi 4,600.
27
Now Jehoiada served as the leader of the house of Aaron, and with him numbered 3,700,
28
also Zadok, a young man mighty of valor, and of his father's house twenty-two captains.
29
Of the sons of Benjamin, Saul's kinsmen, 3,000; for until now the greatest part of them had kept
their allegiance to the house of Saul.
30
Of the sons of Ephraim 20,800, mighty men of valor, famous men in their fathers' households.
31
Of the half-tribe of Manasseh 18,000, who received the designation by name to come and make
David king.
32
Of the sons of Issachar, men who understood the times, with knowledge of what Israel should
do, their chiefs added up to two hundred; and all their kinsmen served at their command.
33
Of Zebulun, there numbered 50,000 who went out in the army, who could draw up in battle
formation with all kinds of weapons of war and helped David with an undivided heart.
34
Of Naphtali there numbered 1,000 captains, and with them 37,000 with shield and spear.
35
Of the Danites who could draw up in battle formation, there numbered 28,600.
36
Of Asher there numbered 40,000 who went out in the army to draw up in battle formation.
37
From the other side of the Jordan, of the Reubenites and the Gadites and of the half-tribe of
Manasseh, there numbered 120,000 with all kinds of weapons of war for the battle.
38
All these, being men of war who could draw up in battle formation, came to Hebron with a
perfect heart to make David king over all Israel; and all the rest also of Israel had one mind to
make David king.
39
They remained there with David three days, eating and drinking, for their kinsmen had
prepared for them.
40
Moreover those who remained near to them, even as far as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali,
brought food on donkeys, camels, mules and on oxen, great quantities of flour cakes, fig cakes
and bunches of raisins, wine, oil, oxen and sheep. There came joy indeed in Israel.

1 Chronicles 13

NASB E-Prime DFM

Peril in Transporting the Ark


1
Then David consulted with the captains of the thousands and the hundreds, even with every
leader.
2
David said to all the assembly of Israel, "If it seems good to you, and if it has come from the
LORD our God, let us send everywhere to our kinsmen who remain in all the land of Israel, also
to the priests and Levites who remain with them in their cities with pasture lands, that they may
meet with us;
3
and let us bring back the ark of our God to us, for we did not seek it in the days of Saul."
4
Then all the assembly said that they would do so, for the thing seemed right in the eyes of all the
people.
5
So David assembled all Israel together, from the Shihor of Egypt even to the entrance of
Hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim.
6
David and all Israel went up to Baalah, namely, to Kiriath-jearim, which belongs to Judah, to
bring up from there the ark of God, the LORD who enthrones Himself above the cherubim,
where they call His name .
7
They carried the ark of God on a new cart from the house of Abinadab, and Uzza and Ahio
drove the cart.
8
David and all Israel celebrated before God with all their might, even with songs and with lyres,
harps, tambourines, cymbals and with trumpets.
9
When they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzza put out his hand to hold the ark, because
the oxen nearly upset it.
10
The anger of the LORD burned against Uzza, so He struck him down because he put out his
hand to the ark; and he died there before God.
11
Then David became angry because of the LORD'S outburst against Uzza; and he called that
place Perez-uzza to this day.
12
David felt afraid of God that day, saying, "How can I bring the ark of God home to me?"
13
So David did not take the ark with him to the city of David, but took it aside to the house of
Obed-edom the Gittite.
14
Thus the ark of God remained with the family of Obed-edom in his house three months; and the
LORD blessed the family of Obed-edom with all that he had.

1 Chronicles 14

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David's Family Enlarged


1
Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David with cedar trees, masons and carpenters, to
build a house for him.
2
And David realized that the LORD had established him as king over Israel, and that his
kingdom had become highly exalted, for the sake of His people Israel.
3
Then David took more wives at Jerusalem, and David became the father of more sons and
daughters.
4
These we identify as the names of the children born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab,
Nathan, Solomon,
5
Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet,
6
Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia,
7
Elishama, Beeliada and Eliphelet.

Philistines Defeated
8
When the Philistines heard that the people had anointed David king over all Israel, all the
Philistines went up in search of David; and David heard of it and went out against them.
9
Now the Philistines had come and made a raid in the valley of Rephaim.
10
David inquired of God, saying, "Shall I go up against the Philistines? And will You give them
into my hand?" Then the LORD said to him, "Go up, for I will give them into your hand."
11
So they came up to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there; and David said, "God has
broken through my enemies by my hand, like the breakthrough of waters." Therefore they named
that place Baal-perazim.
12
They abandoned their gods there; so David gave the order and they burned them with fire.
13
The Philistines made yet another raid in the valley.
14
David inquired again of God, and God said to him, "You shall not go up after them; circle
around behind them and come at them in front of the balsam trees.
15
"It shall come to pass when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then
you shall go out to battle, for God will have gone out before you to strike the army of the
Philistines."
16
David did just as God had commanded him, and they struck down the army of the Philistines
from Gibeon even as far as Gezer.
17
Then the fame of David went out into all the lands; and the LORD brought the fear of him on
all the nations.

1 Chronicles 15
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Plans to Move the Ark to Jerusalem


1
Now David built houses for himself in the city of David; and he prepared a place for the ark of
God and pitched a tent for it.
2
Then David said, "No one will carry the ark of God but the Levites; for the LORD chose them
to carry the ark of God and to minister to Him forever."
3
And David assembled all Israel at Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the LORD to its place which
he had prepared for it.
4
David gathered together the sons of Aaron and the Levites:
5
of the sons of Kohath, Uriel the chief, and 120 of his relatives;
6
of the sons of Merari, Asaiah the chief, and 220 of his relatives;
7
of the sons of Gershom, Joel the chief, and 130 of his relatives;
8
of the sons of Elizaphan, Shemaiah the chief, and 200 of his relatives;
9
of the sons of Hebron, Eliel the chief, and 80 of his relatives;
10
of the sons of Uzziel, Amminadab the chief, and 112 of his relatives.
11
Then David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites, for Uriel, Asaiah,
Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel and Amminadab,
12
and said to them, "You represent the heads of the fathers' households of the Levites; consecrate
yourselves both you and your relatives, that you may bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel
to the place that I have prepared for it.
13
"Because you did not carry it at the first, the LORD our God made an outburst on us, for we did
not seek Him according to the ordinance."
14
So the priests and the Levites consecrated themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD God of
Israel.
15
The sons of the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles thereon, as
Moses had commanded according to the word of the LORD.
16
Then David spoke to the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their relatives the singers, with
instruments of music, harps, lyres, loud-sounding cymbals, to raise sounds of joy.
17
So the Levites appointed Heman the son of Joel, and from his relatives, Asaph the son of
Berechiah; and from the sons of Merari their relatives, Ethan the son of Kushaiah,
18
and with them their relatives of the second rank, Zechariah, Ben, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel,
Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom and Jeiel, the
gatekeepers.
19
So the singers, Heman, Asaph and Ethan received appointment to sound aloud cymbals of
bronze;
20
and Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah and Benaiah, with harps
tuned to alamoth;
21
and Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, Jeiel and Azaziah, to lead with lyres tuned
to the sheminith.
22
Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, took charge of the singing; he gave instruction in singing
because he had skill.
23
Berechiah and Elkanah served as gatekeepers for the ark.
24
Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah and Eliezer, the priests, blew the
trumpets before the ark of God. Obed-edom and Jehiah also served as gatekeepers for the ark.
25
So David, with the elders of Israel and the captains over thousands, who went to bring up the
ark of the covenant of the LORD from the house of Obed-edom with joy.
26
Because God helped the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, they
sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams.
27
Now David clothed himself with a robe of fine linen with all the Levites who carried the ark,
and the singers and Chenaniah the leader of the singing with the singers. David also wore an
ephod of linen.
28
Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting, and with sound
of the horn, with trumpets, with loud-sounding cymbals, with harps and lyres.
29
It happened when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came to the city of David, that Michal
the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and celebrating; and
she despised him in her heart.

1 Chronicles 16
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A Tent for the Ark


1
And they brought in the ark of God and placed it inside the tent which David had pitched for it,
and they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before God.
2
When David had finished offering the burnt offering and the peace offerings, he blessed the
people in the name of the LORD.
3
He distributed to everyone of Israel, both man and woman, to everyone a loaf of bread and a
portion of meat and a raisin cake.
4
He appointed some of the Levites as ministers before the ark of the LORD, even to celebrate
and to thank and praise the LORD God of Israel:
5
Asaph the chief, and second to him Zechariah, then Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah,
Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom and Jeiel, with musical instruments, harps, lyres; also Asaph played
loud-sounding cymbals,
6
and Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests blew trumpets continually before the ark of the covenant of
God.
7
Then on that day David first assigned Asaph and his relatives to give thanks to the LORD.

Psalm of Thanksgiving
8
Oh give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples.
9
Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; Speak of all His wonders.
10
Glory in His holy name; Let the heart of those who seek the LORD receive gladness.
11
Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face continually.
12
Remember His wonderful deeds which He has done, His marvels and the judgments from His
mouth,
13
O seed of Israel His servant, sons of Jacob, His chosen ones!
14
We acknowledge Him as the LORD our God; His judgments resound in all the earth.
15
Remember His covenant forever, the word which He commanded to a thousand generations,
16
The covenant which He made with Abraham, and His oath to Isaac.
17
He also confirmed it to Jacob for a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant,
18
Saying, "To you I will give the land of Canaan, as the portion of your inheritance."
19
When they had only a few in number, very few, and strangers in it,
20
And they wandered about from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another people,
21
He permitted no man to oppress them, and He reproved kings for their sakes, saying,
22
"Do not touch My anointed ones, and do My prophets no harm."
23
Sing to the LORD, all the earth; Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day.
24
Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.
25
For we acknowledge the Lord as great and praiseworthy; We also fear Him above all gods.
26
For the peoples have idols as their gods, but the LORD made the heavens.
27
Splendor and majesty go before Him, strength and joy appear in His place.
28
Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
29
Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name; Bring an offering, and come before Him;
Worship the LORD in holy array.
30
Tremble before Him, all the earth; Indeed, the world has become firmly established, it will not
move.
31
Let the heavens have gladness, and let the earth rejoice; And let them say among the nations,
"The LORD reigns."
32
Let the sea roar, and all it contains; Let the field exult, and all that grows in it.
33
Then the trees of the forest will sing for joy before the LORD; For He comes to judge the earth.
34
O give thanks to the LORD, for He displays goodness; For His lovingkindness extends to
everlasting.
35
Then say, "Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather us and deliver us from the nations, to
give thanks to Your holy name, and glory in Your praise."
36
We bless the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting even to everlasting. Then all the
people said, "Amen," and praised the LORD.
Worship before the Ark
37
So he left Asaph and his relatives there before the ark of the covenant of the LORD to minister
before the ark continually, as every day's work required;
38
and Obed-edom with his 68 relatives; Obed-edom, also the son of Jeduthun, and Hosah as
gatekeepers.
39
He left Zadok the priest and his relatives the priests before the tabernacle of the LORD in the
high place which stood at Gibeon,
40
to offer burnt offerings to the LORD on the altar of burnt offering continually morning and
evening, even according to all that we read in the law of the LORD, which He commanded
Israel.
41
With them stood Heman and Jeduthun, and the rest who they chose, who we designate by
name, to give thanks to the LORD, because His lovingkindness extends to everlasting.
42
And with them stood Heman and Jeduthun with trumpets and cymbals for those who should
sound aloud, and with instruments for the songs of God, and the sons of Jeduthun for the gate.
43
Then all the people departed each to his house, and David returned to bless his household.

1 Chronicles 17

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God's Covenant with David


1
And it came about, when David dwelt in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet,
"Behold, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the LORD lies under
curtains."
2
Then Nathan said to David, "Do all in your heart, for God remains with you."
3
It came about the same night that the word of God came to Nathan, saying,
4
"Go and tell David My servant, 'Thus says the LORD, "You shall not build a house for Me to
dwell in;
5
for I have not dwelt in a house since the day that I brought up Israel to this day, but I have gone
from tent to tent and from one dwelling place to another.
6
"In all places where I have walked with all Israel, have I spoken a word with any of the judges
of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people, saying, 'Why have you not built for Me a
house of cedar?'"'
7
"Now, therefore, thus shall you say to My servant David, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, "I took
you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to serve as leader over My people Israel.
8
"I have dwelled with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from
before you; and I will make you a name like the name of the great ones who dwell in the earth.
9
"I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their
own place and they will not move again; and the wicked will not waste them anymore as
formerly,
10
even from the day that I commanded judges to serve over My people Israel. And I will subdue
all your enemies. Moreover, I tell you that the LORD will build a house for you.
11
"When your days reach fulfillment that you must go to die with your fathers, that I will set up
one of your descendants after you, one of your sons; and I will establish his kingdom.
12
"He shall build for Me a house, and I will establish his throne forever.
13
"I will behave as his father and he shall behave as My son; and I will not take My
lovingkindness away from him, as I took it from him who lived before you.
14
"But I will settle him in My house and in My kingdom forever, and his throne shall last
forever."'"
15
According to all these words and according to all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.

David's Prayer in Response


16
Then David the king went in and sat before the LORD and said, "Who do you consider me, O
LORD God, and what do you consider my house that You have brought me this far?
17
"This seemed a small thing in Your eyes, O God; but You have spoken of Your servant's house
for a great while to come, and have regarded me according to the standard of a man of high
degree, O LORD God.
18
"What more can David still say to You concerning the honor bestowed on Your servant? For
You know Your servant.
19
"O LORD, for Your servant's sake, and according to Your own heart, You have wrought all this
greatness, to make known all these great things.
20
"O LORD, we acknowledge none like You, nor do we regard any God besides You, according
to all that we have heard with our ears.
21
"And what one nation in the earth can compare Your people Israel, whom God went to redeem
for Himself as a people, to make You a name by great and terrible things, in driving out nations
from before Your people, whom You redeemed out of Egypt?
22
"For Your people Israel You made Your own people forever, and You, O LORD, became their
God.
23
"Now, O LORD, let the word that You have spoken concerning Your servant and concerning his
house become established forever, and do as You have spoken.
24
"Let us establish Your name and magnify it forever, saying, 'The LORD of hosts we
acknowledge as the God of Israel, even a God to Israel; and the house of David Your servant has
become established before You.'
25
"For You, O my God, have revealed to Your servant that You will build for him a house;
therefore Your servant has found courage to pray before You.
26
"Now, O LORD, We acknowledge You as God, and have promised this good thing to Your
servant.
27
"And now it has pleased You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue forever
before You; for You, O LORD, have blessed, and it has become blessed forever."

1 Chronicles 18

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David's Kingdom Strengthened


1
Now after this it came about that David defeated the Philistines and subdued them and took
Gath and its towns from the hand of the Philistines.
2
He defeated Moab, and the Moabites became servants to David, bringing tribute.
3
David also defeated Hadadezer king of Zobah as far as Hamath, as he went to establish his rule
to the Euphrates River.
4
David took from him 1,000 chariots and 7,000 horsemen and 20,000 foot soldiers, and David
hamstrung all the chariot horses, but reserved enough of them for 100 chariots.
5
When the Arameans of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David killed 22,000
men of the Arameans.
6
Then David put garrisons among the Arameans of Damascus; and the Arameans became
servants to David, bringing tribute. And the LORD helped David wherever he went.
7
David took the shields of gold which the servants of Hadadezer carried and brought them to
Jerusalem.
8
Also from Tibhath and from Cun, cities of Hadadezer, David took a very large amount of
bronze, with which Solomon made the bronze sea and the pillars and the bronze utensils.
9
Now when Tou king of Hamath heard that David had defeated all the army of Hadadezer king of
Zobah,
10
he sent Hadoram his son to King David to greet him and to bless him, because he had fought
against Hadadezer and had defeated him; for Hadadezer gone to war with Tou. And Hadoram
brought all kinds of articles of gold and silver and bronze.
11
King David also dedicated these to the LORD with the silver and the gold which he had carried
away from all the nations: from Edom, Moab, the sons of Ammon, the Philistines, and from
Amalek.
12
Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah defeated 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt.
13
Then he put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became servants to David. And the LORD
helped David wherever he went.
14
So David reigned over all Israel; and he administered justice and righteousness for all his
people.
15
Joab the son of Zeruiah commanded the army, and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud served as
recorder;
16
and Zadok the son of Ahitub and Abimelech the son of Abiathar served as priests, and Shavsha
served as secretary;
17
and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada presided over the Cherethites and the Pelethites, and the sons
of David served as chiefs at the king's side.

1 Chronicles 19
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David's Messengers Abused


1
Now it came about after this, that Nahash the king of the sons of Ammon died, and his son
became king in his place.
2
Then David said, "I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father showed
kindness to me." So David sent messengers to console him concerning his father. And David's
servants came into the land of the sons of Ammon to Hanun to console him.
3
But the princes of the sons of Ammon said to Hanun, "Do you think that David honors your
father, in that he has sent comforters to you? Have not his servants come to you to search and to
overthrow and to spy out the land?"
4
So Hanun took David's servants and shaved them and cut off their garments in the middle as far
as their hips, and sent them away.
5
Then certain persons went and told David about the men. And he sent to meet them, for the men
felt greatly humiliated. And the king said, "Stay at Jericho until your beards grow, and then
return."
6
When the sons of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David, Hanun and the
sons of Ammon sent 1,000 talents of silver to hire for themselves chariots and horsemen from
Mesopotamia, from Aram-maacah and from Zobah.
7
So they hired for themselves 32,000 chariots, and the king of Maacah and his people, who came
and camped before Medeba. And the sons of Ammon gathered together from their cities and
came to battle.
8
When David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army, the mighty men.
9
The sons of Ammon came out and drew up in battle array at the entrance of the city, and the
kings who had come remained by themselves in the field.

Ammon and Aram Defeated


10
Now when Joab saw that the battle had gone against him in front and in the rear, he selected
from all the choice men of Israel and they arrayed themselves against the Arameans.
11
But the remainder of the people he placed in the hand of Abshai his brother; and they arrayed
themselves against the sons of Ammon.
12
He said, "If the Arameans have grown too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the sons
of Ammon have grown too strong for you, then I will help you.
13
"Remain strong, and let us show ourselves courageous for the sake of our people and for the
cities of our God; and may the LORD do good in His sight."
14
So Joab and the people who accompanied him drew near to the battle against the Arameans,
and they fled before him.
15
When the sons of Ammon saw that the Arameans fled, they also fled before Abshai his brother
and entered the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem.
16
When the Arameans saw that they suffered defeat at the hands of Israel, they sent messengers
and brought out the Arameans who lived beyond the River, with Shophach the commander of the
army of Hadadezer leading them.
17
When David heard it, he gathered all Israel together and crossed the Jordan, and came upon
them and drew up in formation against them. And when David drew up in battle array against the
Arameans, they fought against him.
18
The Arameans fled before Israel, and David killed of the Arameans 7,000 charioteers and
40,000 foot soldiers, and put to death Shophach the commander of the army.
19
So when the servants of Hadadezer saw that they suffered defeat at the hands Israel, they made
peace with David and served him. Thus the Arameans did not want to help the sons of Ammon
anymore.

1 Chronicles 20

NASB E-Prime DFM

War with Philistine Giants


1
Then it happened in the spring, at the time when kings go out to battle, that Joab led out the
army and ravaged the land of the sons of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabbah. But David
stayed at Jerusalem. And Joab struck Rabbah and overthrew it.
2
David took the crown of their king from his head, and he found it to weigh a talent of gold, and
it had a precious stone in it; and David placed it on His head. And he brought out the spoil of the
city, a very great amount.
3
He brought out the people who lived in it, and cut them with saws and with sharp instruments
and with axes. And thus David did to all the cities of the sons of Ammon. Then David and all the
people returned to Jerusalem.
4
Now it came about after this, that war broke out at Gezer with the Philistines; then Sibbecai the
Hushathite killed Sippai, one of the descendants of the giants, and they became subdued.
5
And war broke out with the Philistines again, and Elhanan the son of Jair killed Lahmi the
brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear resembled a weaver's beam.
6
Again war broke out at Gath, where there lived a man of great stature who had twenty-four
fingers and toes, six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot; and he also had descended
from the giants.
7
When he taunted Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea, David's brother, killed him.
8
These had descended from the giants in Gath, and they fell by the hand of David and by the
hand of his servants.

1 Chronicles 21

NASB E-Prime DFM

Census Brings Pestilence


1
Then Satan stood up against Israel and moved David to number Israel.
2
So David said to Joab and to the princes of the people, "Go, number Israel from Beersheba even
to Dan, and bring me word that I may know their number."
3
Joab said, "May the LORD add to His people a hundred times as many as they actually number!
But, my lord the king, do we not recognize them as all my lord's servants? Why does my lord
seek this thing? Why should he become a cause of guilt to Israel?"
4
Nevertheless, the king's word prevailed against Joab. Therefore, Joab departed and went
throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem.
5
Joab gave the number of the census of all the people to David. And all Israel added up to
1,100,000 men who drew the sword; and Judah numbered 470,000 men who drew the sword.
6
But he did not number Levi and Benjamin among them, for the king's command seemed
abhorrent to Joab.
7
God felt displeased with this thing, so He struck Israel.
8
David said to God, "I have sinned greatly, in that I have done this thing. But now, please take
away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have done very foolishly."
9
The LORD spoke to Gad, David's seer, saying,
10
"Go and speak to David, saying, 'Thus says the LORD, "I offer you three things; choose for
yourself one of them, which I will do to you."'"
11
So Gad came to David and said to him, "Thus says the LORD, 'Take for yourself
12
either three years of famine, or three months to be swept away before your foes, while the
sword of your enemies overtakes you, or else three days of the sword of the LORD, even
pestilence in the land, and the angel of the LORD destroying throughout all the territory of
Israel.' Now, therefore, consider what answer I shall return to Him who sent me."
13
David said to Gad, "I feel in great distress; please let me fall into the hand of the LORD, for His
mercies I consider very great. But do not let me fall into the hand of man."
14
So the LORD sent a pestilence on Israel; 70,000 men of Israel fell.
15
And God sent an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it; but as he almost destroyed it, the LORD saw
and felt sorry over the calamity, and said to the destroying angel, "Enough; now relax your
hand." And the angel of the LORD stood by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
16
Then David lifted up his eyes and saw the angel of the LORD standing between earth and
heaven, with his drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the
elders, covered with sackcloth, fell on their faces.
17
David said to God, "I commanded them to count the people? Indeed, I have sinned and done
very wickedly, but these sheep, what have they done? O LORD my God, please let Your hand
fall against me and my father's household, but not against Your people that they should receive
plagues."

David's Altar
18
Then the angel of the LORD commanded Gad to say to David, that David should go up and
build an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
19
So David went up at the word of Gad, which he spoke in the name of the LORD.
20
Now Ornan turned back and saw the angel, and his four sons who lived with him hid
themselves. And Ornan threshed wheat.
21
As David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David, and went out from the threshing floor
and prostrated himself before David with his face to the ground.
22
Then David said to Ornan, "Give me the site of this threshing floor, that I may build on it an
altar to the LORD; for the full price you shall give it to me, that you shall restrain the plague
from the people."
23
Ornan said to David, "Take it for yourself; and let my lord the king do good in his sight. See, I
will give the oxen for burnt offerings and the threshing sledges for wood and the wheat for the
grain offering; I will give it all."
24
But King David said to Ornan, "No, but I will surely buy it for the full price; for I will not take
what belongs to you for the LORD, or offer a burnt offering which costs me nothing."
25
So David gave Ornan 600 shekels of gold by weight for the site.
26
Then David built an altar to the LORD there and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.
And he called to the LORD and He answered him with fire from heaven on the altar of burnt
offering.
27
The LORD commanded the angel, and he put his sword back in its sheath.
28
At that time, when David saw that the LORD had answered him on the threshing floor of Ornan
the Jebusite, he offered sacrifice there.
29
For the tabernacle of the LORD, which Moses had made in the wilderness, and the altar of
burnt offering stood in the high place at Gibeon at that time.
30
But David could not go before it to inquire of God, for he felt terrified by the sword of the
angel of the LORD.

1 Chronicles 22

NASB E-Prime DFM

David Prepares for Temple Building


1
Then David said, "This we recognize as the house of the LORD God, and this we recognize the
altar of burnt offering for Israel."
2
So David gave orders to gather the foreigners who lived in the land of Israel, and he set
stonecutters to hew out stones to build the house of God.
3
David prepared large quantities of iron to make the nails for the doors of the gates and for the
clamps, and more bronze than they could weigh;
4
and timbers of cedar logs beyond number, for the Sidonians and Tyrians brought large quantities
of cedar timber to David.
5
David said, "My son Solomon I consider young and inexperienced, and the house that he will
build for the LORD shall appear exceedingly magnificent, famous and glorious throughout all
lands. Therefore now I will make preparation for it." So David made ample preparations before
his death.

Solomon Charged with the Task


6
Then he called for his son Solomon, and charged him to build a house for the LORD God of
Israel.
7
David said to Solomon, "My son, I had intended to build a house to the name of the LORD my
God.
8
"But the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 'You have shed much blood and have waged
great wars; you shall not build a house to My name, because you have shed so much blood on the
earth before Me.
9
'Behold, a son you will have shall prove himself a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all
his enemies on every side; for you shall name him Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to
Israel in his days.
10
'He shall build a house for My name, and I shall consider him My son and he shall consider him
as his father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.'
11
"Now, my son, the LORD remain with you that you may have success, and build the house of
the LORD your God just as He has spoken concerning you.
12
"Only the LORD give you discretion and understanding, and give you charge over Israel, so
that you may keep the law of the LORD your God.
13
"Then you will prosper, if you take care to observe the statutes and the ordinances which the
LORD commanded Moses concerning Israel. Remain strong and courageous, do not fear nor
have dismay.
14
"Now behold, with great pains I have prepared for the house of the LORD 100,000 talents of
gold and 1,000,000 talents of silver, and bronze and iron beyond weight, for they amass in great
quantity; also timber and stone I have prepared, and you may add to them.
15
"Moreover, you have many workmen with you, stonecutters and masons of stone and
carpenters, and all men who show skill in every kind of work.
16
"Of the gold, the silver and the bronze and the iron you shall not limit. Arise and work, and may
the LORD go with you."
17
David also commanded all the leaders of Israel to help his son Solomon, saying,
18
" Does not the LORD your God accompany you? And has He not given you rest on every side?
For He has given the inhabitants of the land into my hand, and the land has become subdued
before the LORD and before His people.
19
"Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God; arise, therefore, and build the
sanctuary of the LORD God, so that you may bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD and the
holy vessels of God into the house that you will build for the name of the LORD."

1 Chronicles 23

NASB E-Prime DFM

Solomon Reigns
1
Now when David reached old age, he made his son Solomon king over Israel.
2
And he gathered together all the leaders of Israel with the priests and the Levites.

Offices of the Levites


3
The Levites he had numbered from thirty years old and upward, and their number by census of
men had reached 38,000.
4
Of these, 24,000 oversaw the work of the house of the LORD; and 6,000 served as officers and
judges,
5
and 4,000 served as gatekeepers, and 4,000 praised the LORD with the instruments which David
made for giving praise.
6
David divided them into divisions according to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

Gershonites
7
Of the Gershonites we identify Ladan and Shimei.
8
The sons of Ladan we identify as Jehiel the first and Zetham and Joel, three.
9
The sons of Shimei we identify as Shelomoth and Haziel and Haran, three. These served as the
heads of the fathers' households of Ladan.
10
The sons of Shimei we identify as Jahath, Zina, Jeush and Beriah. These four we identify as the
sons of Shimei.
11
Jahath we identify as the first and Zizah the second; but Jeush and Beriah did not have many
sons, so they became a father's household, one class.

Kohathites
12
The sons of Kohath we count as four: Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel.
13
The sons of Amram we identify as Aaron and Moses. And Aaron became set apart to sanctify
him as most holy, he and his sons forever, to burn incense before the LORD, to minister to Him
and to bless in His name forever.
14
But as for Moses the man of God, his sons received names among the tribe of Levi.
15
The sons of Moses we identify as Gershom and Eliezer.
16
The son of Gershom we identify as Shebuel the chief.
17
The son of Eliezer we identify as Rehabiah the chief; and Eliezer had no other sons, but the
sons of Rehabiah grew to very many.
18
The son of Izhar we identify as Shelomith the chief.
19
The sons of Hebron we identify as Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third and
Jekameam the fourth.
20
The sons of Uzziel we identify as Micah the first and Isshiah the second.

Merarites
21
The sons of Merari we identify as Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli we identify as Eleazar
and Kish.
22
Eleazar died and had no sons, but daughters only, so their brothers, the sons of Kish, took them
as wives.
23
The sons of Mushi numbered three: Mahli, Eder and Jeremoth.

Duties Revised
24
These we identify as the sons of Levi according to their fathers' households, even the heads of
the fathers' households of those of them who they counted, in the number of names by their
census, doing the work for the service of the house of the LORD, from twenty years old and
upward.
25
For David said, "The LORD God of Israel has given rest to His people, and He dwells in
Jerusalem forever.
26
"Also, the Levites will no longer need to carry the tabernacle and all its utensils for its service."
27
For by the last words of David the sons of Levi had become numbered from twenty years old
and upward.
28
For their office consisted of assisting the sons of Aaron with the service of the house of the
LORD, in the courts and in the chambers and in the purifying of all holy things, even the work of
the service of the house of God,
29
and with the showbread, and the fine flour for a grain offering, and unleavened wafers, or what
they baked in the pan or what they had mixed well, and all measures of volume and size.
30
They will stand every morning to thank and to praise the LORD, and likewise at evening,
31
and to offer all burnt offerings to the LORD, on the sabbaths, the new moons and the fixed
festivals in the number set by the ordinance concerning them, continually before the LORD.
32
Thus they would keep charge of the tent of meeting, and charge of the holy place, and charge of
the sons of Aaron their relatives, for the service of the house of the LORD.

1 Chronicles 24

NASB E-Prime DFM

Divisions of Levites
1
Now the divisions of the descendants of Aaron we identify as the following: the sons of Aaron
we identify as Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.
2
But Nadab and Abihu died before their father and had no sons. So Eleazar and Ithamar served as
priests.
3
David, with Zadok of the sons of Eleazar and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, divided them
according to their offices for their ministry.
4
Since more chief men we found from the descendants of Eleazar than the descendants of
Ithamar, they divided them thus: there appeared sixteen heads of fathers' households of the
descendants of Eleazar and eight of the descendants of Ithamar, according to their fathers'
households.
5
Thus they became divided by lot, the one as the other; for they served as officers of the
sanctuary and officers of God, both from the descendants of Eleazar and the descendants of
Ithamar.
6
Shemaiah, the son of Nethanel the scribe, from the Levites, recorded them in the presence of the
king, the princes, Zadok the priest, Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and the heads of the fathers'
households of the priests and of the Levites; one father's household taken for Eleazar and one
taken for Ithamar.
7
Now the first lot came out for Jehoiarib, the second for Jedaiah,
8
the third for Harim, the fourth for Seorim,
9
the fifth for Malchijah, the sixth for Mijamin,
10
the seventh for Hakkoz, the eighth for Abijah,
11
the ninth for Jeshua, the tenth for Shecaniah,
12
the eleventh for Eliashib, the twelfth for Jakim,
13
the thirteenth for Huppah, the fourteenth for Jeshebeab,
14
the fifteenth for Bilgah, the sixteenth for Immer,
15
the seventeenth for Hezir, the eighteenth for Happizzez,
16
the nineteenth for Pethahiah, the twentieth for Jehezkel,
17
the twenty-first for Jachin, the twenty-second for Gamul,
18
the twenty-third for Delaiah, the twenty-fourth for Maaziah.
19
These constituted their offices for their ministry when they came in to the house of the LORD
according to the ordinance given to them through Aaron their father, just as the LORD God of
Israel had commanded him.
20
Now for the rest of the sons of Levi: of the sons of Amram, Shubael; of the sons of Shubael,
Jehdeiah.
21
Of Rehabiah: of the sons of Rehabiah, Isshiah the first.
22
Of the Izharites, Shelomoth; of the sons of Shelomoth, Jahath.
23
The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, Jekameam the
fourth.
24
Of the sons of Uzziel, Micah; of the sons of Micah, Shamir.
25
The brother of Micah, Isshiah; of the sons of Isshiah, Zechariah.
26
The sons of Merari, Mahli and Mushi; the sons of Jaaziah, Beno.
27
The sons of Merari: by Jaaziah consisted of Beno, Shoham, Zaccur and Ibri.
28
By Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons.
29
By Kish: the sons of Kish, Jerahmeel.
30
The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder and Jerimoth. These we identify as the sons of the Levites
according to their fathers' households.
31
These also cast lots just as their relatives the sons of Aaron in the presence of David the king,
Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of the fathers' households of the priests and of the Levites--the
head of fathers' households as well as those of his younger brother.

1 Chronicles 25

NASB E-Prime DFM

Number and Services of Musicians


1
Moreover, David and the commanders of the army set apart for the service some of the sons of
Asaph and of Heman and of Jeduthun, who would prophesy with lyres, harps and cymbals; and
the number of those who performed their service was:
2
Of the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah and Asharelah; the sons of Asaph served under
the direction of Asaph, who prophesied under the direction of the king.
3
Of Jeduthun, the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah and Mattithiah,
six, under the direction of their father Jeduthun with the harp, who prophesied in giving thanks
and praising the LORD.
4
Of Heman, the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel and Jerimoth, Hananiah,
Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti and Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, Mahazioth.
5
All these we identify as the sons of Heman the king's seer to exalt him according to the words of
God, for God gave fourteen sons and three daughters to Heman.
6
All these served under the direction of their father to sing in the house of the LORD, with
cymbals, harps and lyres, for the service of the house of God Asaph, Jeduthun and Heman served
under the direction of the king.
7
Their number who received training in singing to the LORD, with their relatives, all who
demonstrated skill, numbered 288.

Divisions of Musicians
8
They cast lots for their duties, all alike, the small as well as the great, the teacher as well as the
pupil.
9
Now the first lot came out for Asaph to Joseph, the second for Gedaliah, he with his relatives
and sons numbered twelve;
10
the third to Zaccur, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
11
the fourth to Izri, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
12
the fifth to Nethaniah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
13
the sixth to Bukkiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
14
the seventh to Jesharelah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
15
the eighth to Jeshaiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
16
the ninth to Mattaniah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
17
the tenth to Shimei, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
18
the eleventh to Azarel, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
19
the twelfth to Hashabiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
20
for the thirteenth, Shubael, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
21
for the fourteenth, Mattithiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
22
for the fifteenth to Jeremoth, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
23
for the sixteenth to Hananiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
24
for the seventeenth to Joshbekashah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
25
for the eighteenth to Hanani, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
26
for the nineteenth to Mallothi, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
27
for the twentieth to Eliathah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
28
for the twenty-first to Hothir, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
29
for the twenty-second to Giddalti, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
30
for the twenty-third to Mahazioth, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
31
for the twenty-fourth to Romamti-ezer, his sons and his relatives, twelve.

1 Chronicles 26

NASB E-Prime DFM

Divisions of the Gatekeepers


1
For the divisions of the gatekeepers there numbered among the Korahites, Meshelemiah the son
of Kore, of the sons of Asaph.
2
Meshelemiah had sons: Zechariah the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel
the fourth,
3
Elam the fifth, Johanan the sixth, Eliehoenai the seventh.
4
Obed-edom had sons: Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, Sacar the
fourth, Nethanel the fifth,
5
Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh and Peullethai the eighth; God had indeed blessed him.
6
Also to his son Shemaiah sons became born who ruled over the house of their father, for they
proved themselves mighty men of valor.
7
The sons of Shemaiah we identify as Othni, Rephael, Obed and Elzabad, whose brothers, Elihu
and Semachiah, proved themselves valiant men.
8
All these we identify as the sons of Obed-edom; they and their sons and their relatives proved
themselves able men with strength for the service, 62 from Obed-edom.
9
Meshelemiah had sons and relatives, 18 valiant men.
10
Also Hosah, one of the sons of Merari had sons: Shimri the first (although he had not become
born first, his father made him first),
11
Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth; all the sons and relatives of Hosah
numbered 13.
12
To these divisions of the gatekeepers, the chief men, received duties like their relatives to
minister in the house of the LORD.
13
They cast lots, the small and the great alike, according to their fathers' households, for every
gate.
14
The lot to the east fell to Shelemiah. Then they cast lots for his son Zechariah, a counselor with
insight, and his lot came out to the north.
15
For Obed-edom it fell to the south, and to his sons went the storehouse.
16
For Shuppim and Hosah it went to the west, by the gate of Shallecheth, on the ascending
highway. Guard corresponded to guard.
17
On the east there served six Levites, on the north four daily, on the south four daily, and at the
storehouse two by two.
18
At the Parbar on the west there numbered four at the highway and two at the Parbar.
19
These we identify as the divisions of the gatekeepers of the sons of Korah and of the sons of
Merari.

Keepers of the Treasure


20
The Levites, their relatives, had charge of the treasures of the house of God and of the treasures
of the dedicated gifts.
21
The sons of Ladan, the sons of the Gershonites belonging to Ladan, namely, the Jehielites,
served as the heads of the fathers' households, belonging to Ladan the Gershonite.
22
The sons of Jehieli, Zetham and Joel his brother, had charge of the treasures of the house of the
LORD.
23
As for the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites and the Uzzielites,
24
Shebuel the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, served as officer over the treasures.
25
His relatives by Eliezer we identify as Rehabiah his son, Jeshaiah his son, Joram his son, Zichri
his son and Shelomoth his son.
26
This Shelomoth and his relatives had charge of all the treasures of the dedicated gifts which
King David and the heads of the fathers' households, the commanders of thousands and
hundreds, and the commanders of the army, had dedicated.
27
They dedicated part of the spoil won in battles to repair the house of the LORD.
28
And all that Samuel the seer had dedicated and Saul the son of Kish, Abner the son of Ner and
Joab the son of Zeruiah, everyone who had dedicated anything, all of this fell to the care of
Shelomoth and his relatives.

Outside Duties
29
As for the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons received the assignment for outside duties for
Israel, as officers and judges.
30
As for the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his relatives, 1,700 capable men, had charge of the affairs
of Israel west of the Jordan, for all the work of the LORD and the service of the king.
31
As for the Hebronites, Jerijah the chief (these Hebronites had undergone investigations
according to their genealogies and fathers' households, in the fortieth year of David's reign, and
men of outstanding capability they found among them at Jazer of Gilead)
32
and his relatives, capable men, numbered 2,700, heads of fathers' households. And King David
made them overseers of the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of the Manassites
concerning all the affairs of God and of the king.

1 Chronicles 27

NASB E-Prime DFM

Commanders of the Army


1
Now this we calculate as the enumeration of the sons of Israel, the heads of fathers' households,
the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and their officers who served the king in all the
affairs of the divisions which came in and went out month by month throughout all the months of
the year, each division numbering 24,000:
2
Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel had charge of the first division for the first month; and in his
division numbered 24,000.
3
Jashobeam from the sons of Perez became chief of all the commanders of the army for the first
month.
4
Dodai the Ahohite and his division had charge of the division for the second month, Mikloth
being the chief officer; and in his division numbered 24,000.
5
The Benaiah, the son of Jehoida the priest served as third commander of the army for the third
month, as chief; and in his division numbered 24,000.
6
This Benaiah proved himself the mighty man of the thirty, and had charge of thirty; and over his
division served Ammizabad his son.
7
The fourth for the fourth month we identify as Asahel the brother of Joab, and Zebadiah his son
after him; and in his division numbered 24,000.
8
The fifth for the fifth month we identified as the commander Shamhuth the Izrahite; and in his
division numbered 24,000.
9
The sixth for the sixth month we identify as Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite; and in his
division numbered 24,000.
10
The seventh for the seventh month we identify as Helez the Pelonite of the sons of Ephraim;
and in his division numbered 24,000.
11
The eighth for the eighth month we identify as Sibbecai the Hushathite of the Zerahites; and in
his division numbered 24,000.
12
The ninth for the ninth month we identify as Abiezer the Anathothite of the Benjamites; and in
his division numbered 24,000.
13
The tenth for the tenth month we identify as Maharai the Netophathite of the Zerahites; and in
his division numbered 24,000.
14
The eleventh for the eleventh month we identified as Benaiah the Pirathonite of the sons of
Ephraim; and in his division numbered 24,000.
15
The twelfth for the twelfth month we identify as Heldai the Netophathite of Othniel; and in his
division numbered 24,000.

Chief Officers of the Tribes


16
Now in charge of the tribes of Israel: chief officer for the Reubenites we identify as Eliezer the
son of Zichri; for the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maacah;
17
for Levi, Hashabiah the son of Kemuel; for Aaron, Zadok;
18
for Judah, Elihu, one of David's brothers; for Issachar, Omri the son of Michael;
19
for Zebulun, Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah; for Naphtali, Jeremoth the son of Azriel;
20
for the sons of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Azaziah; for the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joel the son
of Pedaiah;
21
for the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah; for Benjamin, Jaasiel the
son of Abner;
22
for Dan, Azarel the son of Jeroham. These we identify as the princes of the tribes of Israel.
23
But David did not count those twenty years of age and under, because the LORD had said He
would multiply Israel as the stars of heaven.
24
Joab the son of Zeruiah had begun to count them, but did not finish; and because of this, wrath
came upon Israel, and the number they did not include in the account of the chronicles of King
David.

Various Overseers
25
Now Azmaveth the son of Adiel had charge of the king's storehouses. And Jonathan the son of
Uzziah had charge of the storehouses in the country, in the cities, in the villages and in the
towers.
26
Ezri the son of Chelub had charge of the agricultural workers who tilled the soil.
27
Shimei the Ramathite had charge of the vineyards; and Zabdi the Shiphmite had charge of the
produce of the vineyards stored in the wine cellars.
28
Baal-hanan the Gederite had charge of the olive and sycamore trees in the Shephelah; and Joash
had charge of the stores of oil.
29
Shitrai the Sharonite had charge of the cattle which grazed in Sharon; and Shaphat the son of
Adlai had charge of the cattle in the valleys.
30
Obil the Ishmaelite had charge of the camels; and Jehdeiah the Meronothite had charge of the
donkeys.
31
Jaziz the Hagrite had charge of the flocks. All these served as overseers of the property which
belonged to King David.

Counselors
32
Also Jonathan, David's uncle, served as a counselor, a man of understanding, and a scribe; and
Jehiel the son of Hachmoni tutored the king's sons.
33
Ahithophel served as counselor to the king; and Hushai the Archite we identify as the king's
friend.
34
Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, and Abiathar succeeded Ahithophel; and Joab served as the
commander of the king's army.
1 Chronicles 28

E-Prime DFM

David's Address about the Temple


1
Now David assembled at Jerusalem all the officials of Israel, the princes of the tribes, and the
commanders of the divisions that served the king, and the commanders of thousands, and the
commanders of hundreds, and the overseers of all the property and livestock belonging to the
king and his sons, with the officials and the mighty men, even all the valiant men.
2
Then King David rose to his feet and said, "Listen to me, my brethren and my people; I had
intended to build a permanent home for the ark of the covenant of the LORD and for the
footstool of our God. So I had made preparations to build it.
3
"But God said to me, 'You shall not build a house for My name because you have proved
yourself a man of war and have shed blood.'
4
"Yet, the LORD, the God of Israel, chose me from all the house of my father to serve as king
over Israel forever. For He has chosen Judah to lead; and in the house of Judah, my father's
house, and among the sons of my father He took pleasure in me to make me king over all Israel.
5
"Of all my sons (for the LORD has given me many sons), He has chosen my son Solomon to sit
on the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel.
6
"He said to me, 'Your son Solomon shall build My house and My courts; for I have chosen him
as a son to Me, and I will serve as a father to him.
7
'I will establish his kingdom forever if he resolutely performs My commandments and My
ordinances, as has happened now.'
8
"So now, in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of the LORD, and in the hearing of our God,
observe and seek after all the commandments of the LORD your God so that you may possess
the good land and bequeath it to your sons after you forever.
9
"As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart
and a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the
thoughts. If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you
forever.
10
"Consider now, for the LORD has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; show courage
and act."
11
Then David gave to his son Solomon the plan of the porch of the temple, its buildings, its
storehouses, its upper rooms, its inner rooms and the room for the mercy seat;
12
and the plan of all that he had in mind, for the courts of the house of the LORD, and for all the
surrounding rooms, for the storehouses of the house of God and for the storehouses of the
dedicated things;
13
also for the divisions of the priests and the Levites and for all the work of the service of the
house of the LORD and for all the utensils of service in the house of the LORD;
14
for the golden utensils, the weight of gold for all utensils for every kind of service; for the silver
utensils, the weight of silver for all utensils for every kind of service;
15
and the weight of gold for the golden lampstands and their golden lamps, with the weight of
each lampstand and its lamps; and the weight of silver for the silver lampstands, with the weight
of each lampstand and its lamps according to the use of each lampstand;
16
and the gold by weight for the tables of showbread, for each table; and silver for the silver
tables;
17
and the forks, the basins, and the pitchers of pure gold; and for the golden bowls with the
weight for each bowl; and for the silver bowls with the weight for each bowl;
18
and for the altar of incense refined gold by weight; and gold for the model of the chariot, even
the cherubim that spread out their wings and covered the ark of the covenant of the LORD.
19
"All this," said David, "the LORD made me understand in writing by His hand upon me, all the
details of this pattern."
20
Then David said to his son Solomon, "Remain strong and courageous, and act; do not fear nor
feel dismayed, for the LORD God, my God, remains with you. He will not fail you nor forsake
you until all the work for the service of the house of the LORD has become finished.
21
"Now behold, there we identify as the divisions of the priests and the Levites for all the service
of the house of God, and every willing man of any skill will remain with you in all the work for
all kinds of service. The officials also and all the people will remain entirely at your command."
1 Chronicles 29

NASB E-Prime DFM

Offerings for the Temple


1
Then King David said to the entire assembly, "My son Solomon, whom alone God has chosen,
remains still young and inexperienced and the work appears great; for the temple we build not
for man, but for the LORD God.
2
"Now with all my ability I have provided for the house of my God the gold for the things of
gold, and the silver for the things of silver, and the bronze for the things of bronze, the iron for
the things of iron, and wood for the things of wood, onyx stones and inlaid stones, stones of
antimony and stones of various colors, and all kinds of precious stones and alabaster in
abundance.
3
"Moreover, in my delight in the house of my God, the treasure I have of gold and silver, I give
to the house of my God, over and above all that I have already provided for the holy temple,
4
namely, 3,000 talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and 7,000 talents of refined silver, to overlay
the walls of the buildings;
5
of gold for the things of gold and of silver for the things of silver, namely, for all the work done
by the craftsmen. Who then has willingness to consecrate himself this day to the LORD?"
6
Then the rulers of the fathers' households, and the princes of the tribes of Israel, and the
commanders of thousands and of hundreds, with the overseers over the king's work, offered
willingly;
7
and for the service for the house of God they gave 5,000 talents and 10,000 darics of gold, and
10,000 talents of silver, and 18,000 talents of brass, and 100,000 talents of iron.
8
Whoever possessed precious stones gave them to the treasury of the house of the LORD, in care
of Jehiel the Gershonite.
9
Then the people rejoiced because they had offered so willingly, for they made their offering to
the LORD with a whole heart, and King David also rejoiced greatly.
David's Prayer
10
So David blessed the LORD in the sight of all the assembly; and David said, "We Bless You, O
LORD God of Israel our father, forever and ever.
11
"Yours, O LORD, we acknowledge as the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory
and the majesty, indeed everything that exists in the heavens and the earth; the dominion belongs
to You, O LORD, and You exalt Yourself as head over all.
12
"Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all, and in Your hand resides power
and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone.
13
"Now therefore, our God, we thank You, and praise Your glorious name.
14
"But who do you consider me and who are my people that we should have the ability to offer as
generously as this? For all things come from You, and from Your hand we have given You.
15
"For we live as sojourners before You, and tenants, as all our fathers were; our days on the earth
resemble a shadow, and we see no hope.
16
"O LORD our God, all this abundance that we have provided to build You a house for Your
holy name, it comes from Your hand, and all belongs to You.
17
"Since I know, O my God, that You try the heart and delight in uprightness, I, in the integrity of
my heart, have willingly offered all these things; so now with joy I have seen Your people, who
stand presently here, make their offerings willingly to You.
18
"O LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, our fathers, preserve this forever in the
intentions of the heart of Your people, and direct their heart to You;
19
and give to my son Solomon a perfect heart to keep Your commandments, Your testimonies and
Your statutes, and to do them all, and to build the temple, for which I have made provision."
20
Then David said to all the assembly, "Now bless the LORD your God." And all the assembly
blessed the LORD, the God of their fathers, and bowed low and did homage to the LORD and to
the king.

Sacrifices
21
On the next day they made sacrifices to the LORD and offered burnt offerings to the LORD,
1,000 bulls, 1,000 rams and 1,000 lambs, with their drink offerings and sacrifices in abundance
for all Israel.
22
So they ate and drank that day before the LORD with great gladness. And they made Solomon
the son of David king a second time, and they (anointed him as ruler for the LORD and Zadok as
priest.
23
Then Solomon sat on the throne of the LORD as king instead of David his father; and he
prospered, and all Israel obeyed him.
24
All the officials, the mighty men, and also all the sons of King David pledged allegiance to
King Solomon.
25
The LORD highly exalted Solomon in the sight of all Israel, and bestowed on him royal
majesty which they had not seen on any king before him in Israel.
26
Now David the son of Jesse reigned over all Israel.
27
The period which he reigned over Israel reached forty years; he reigned in Hebron seven years
and in Jerusalem thirty-three years.

Death of David
28
Then he died in a ripe old age, full of days, riches and honor; and his son Solomon reigned in
his place.
29
Now the acts of King David, from first to last, we read in the chronicles of Samuel the seer, in
the chronicles of Nathan the prophet and in the chronicles of Gad the seer,
30
with all his reign, his power, and the circumstances which came on him, on Israel, and on all
the kingdoms of the lands.
2 Chronicles 1-36

2 Chronicles 1

Rendered into E-Prime by Dr. David F. Maas

Solomon Worships at Gibeon


1
Now Solomon the son of David established himself securely over his kingdom, and the LORD
his God remained with him and exalted him greatly.
2
Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the commanders of thousands and of hundreds and to the judges
and to every leader in all Israel, the heads of the fathers' households.
3
Then Solomon and all the assembly with him went to the high place which stood at Gibeon, for
God's tent of meeting stood there, which Moses the servant of the LORD had made in the
wilderness.
4
However, David had brought up the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim to the place he had prepared
for it, for he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem.
5
Now the bronze altar, which Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, stood there before
the tabernacle of the LORD, and Solomon and the assembly sought it out.
6
Solomon went up there before the LORD to the bronze altar which stood at the tent of meeting,
and offered a thousand burnt offerings on it.
7
In that night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, "Ask what I shall give you."

Solomon's Prayer for Wisdom


8
Solomon said to God, "You have dealt with my father David with great lovingkindness, and
have made me king in his place.
9
"Now, O LORD God, Your promise to my father David has become fulfilled, for You have made
me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth.
10
"Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people, for
who can rule this great people of Yours?"
11
God said to Solomon, "Because you had this in mind, and did not ask for riches, wealth or
honor, or the life of those who hate you, nor have you even asked for long life, but you have
asked for yourself wisdom and knowledge that you may rule My people over whom I have made
you king,
12
wisdom and knowledge I have granted to you. And I will give you riches and wealth and honor,
such as none of the kings who lived before you has possessed nor those who will come after
you."
13
So Solomon went from the high place which stood at Gibeon, from the tent of meeting, to
Jerusalem, and he reigned over Israel.

Solomon's Wealth
14
Solomon amassed chariots and horsemen He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen, and he
stationed them in the chariot cities and with the king at Jerusalem.
15
The king made silver and gold as plentiful in Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedars as
plentiful as sycamores in the lowland.
16
Solomon imported his horses from Egypt and from Kue; the king's traders procured them from
Kue for a price.
17
They imported chariots from Egypt for 600 shekels of silver apiece and horses for 150 apiece,
and by the same means they exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Aram.

2 Chronicles 2

NASB E-Prime DFM

Solomon Will Build a Temple and Palace


1
Now Solomon decided to build a house for the name of the LORD and a royal palace for
himself.
2
So Solomon assigned 70,000 men to carry loads and 80,000 men to quarry stone in the
mountains and 3,600 to supervise them.
3
Then Solomon sent word to Huram the king of Tyre, saying, “As you dealt with David my father
and sent him cedars to build him a house to dwell in, so do for me.
4
"Behold, I intend to build a house for the name of the LORD my God, dedicating it to Him, to
burn fragrant incense before Him and to set out the showbread continually, and to offer burnt
offerings morning and evening, on sabbaths and on new moons and on the appointed feasts of the
LORD our God, this we require forever in Israel.
5
"The house which I intend to build will have greatness, for greater do we regard our God than
all the gods.
6
"But who can build a house for Him, for the heavens and the highest heavens cannot contain
Him? So who do you consider me, that I should build a house for Him, except to burn incense
before Him?
7
"Now send me a skilled man to work in gold, silver, brass and iron, and in purple, crimson and
violet fabrics, and who knows how to make engravings, to work with the skilled men whom I
have in Judah and Jerusalem, whom David my father provided.
8
"Send me also cedar, cypress and algum timber from Lebanon, for I know that your servants
know how to cut timber of Lebanon; and indeed my servants will work with your servants,
9
to prepare timber in abundance for me, for the house which I intend to build will have greatness
and wonder.
10
"Now behold, I will give to your servants, the woodsmen who cut the timber, 20,000 kors of
crushed wheat and 20,000 kors of barley, and 20,000 baths of wine and 20,000 baths of oil."

Huram to Assist
11
Then Huram, king of Tyre, answered in a letter sent to Solomon: "Because the LORD loves His
people, He has made you king over them."
12
Then Huram continued, "We bless the LORD, the God of Israel, who has made heaven and
earth, who has given King David a wise son, endowed with discretion and understanding, who
will build a house for the LORD and a royal palace for himself.
13
"Now I send Huram-abi, a skilled man, endowed with understanding,
14
the son of a Danite woman and a Tyrian father, who knows how to work in gold, silver, bronze,
iron, stone and wood, and in purple, violet, linen and crimson fabrics, and who knows how to
make all kinds of engravings and to execute any design which may be assigned to him, to work
with your skilled men and with those of my lord David your father.
15
"Now then, let my lord send to his servants wheat and barley, oil and wine, of which he has
spoken.
16
"We will cut whatever timber you need from Lebanon and bring it to you on rafts by sea to
Joppa, so that you may carry it up to Jerusalem."
17
Solomon numbered all the aliens who lived in the land of Israel, following the census which his
father David had taken; and 153,600 they found.
18
He appointed 70,000 of them to carry loads and 80,000 to quarry stones in the mountains and
3,600 supervisors to make the people work.

2 Chronicles 3

NASBE-Prime DFM

The Temple Construction in Jerusalem


1
Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the
LORD had appeared to his father David, at the place that David had prepared on the threshing
floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
2
He began to build on the second day in the second month of the fourth year of his reign.

Dimensions and Materials of the Temple


3
Now these measure the foundations which Solomon laid for building the house of God. The
length in cubits, according to the old standard measured sixty cubits, and the width twenty cubits.
4
The porch which stood in front of the house appeared as long as the width of the house, twenty
cubits, and the height 120; and inside he overlaid it with pure gold.
5
He overlaid the main room with cypress wood and overlaid it with fine gold, and ornamented it
with palm trees and chains.
6
Further, he adorned the house with precious stones; and the gold came from Parvaim.
7
He also overlaid the house with gold--the beams, the thresholds and its walls and its doors; and
he carved cherubim on the walls.
8
Now he made the room of the holy of holies: its length across the width of the house measured
twenty cubits, and its width measured twenty cubits; and he overlaid it with fine gold, amounting
to 600 talents.
9
The weight of the nails measured fifty shekels of gold. He also overlaid the upper rooms with
gold.
10
Then he made two sculptured cherubim in the room of the holy of holies and overlaid them
with gold.
11
The wingspan of the cherubim measured twenty cubits; the wing of one, of five cubits, touched
the wall of the house, and its other wing, of five cubits, touched the wing of the other cherub.
12
The wing of the other cherub, of five cubits, touched the wall of the house; and its other wing
of five cubits connected to the wing of the first cherub.
13
The wings of these cherubim extended twenty cubits, and they stood on their feet facing the
main room.
14
He made the veil of violet, purple, crimson and fine linen, and he worked cherubim on it.
15
He also made two pillars for the front of the house, thirty-five cubits high, and the capital on
the top of each measured five cubits.
16
He made chains in the inner sanctuary and placed them on the tops of the pillars; and he made
one hundred pomegranates and placed them on the chains.
17
He erected the pillars in front of the temple, one on the right and the other on the left, and
named the one on the right Jachin and the one on the left Boaz.

2 Chronicles 4

NASB E-Prime DFM

Furnishings of the Temple


1
Then he made a bronze altar, twenty cubits in length and twenty cubits in width and ten cubits in
height.
2
Also he made the cast metal sea, ten cubits from brim to brim, circular in form, and its height
measured five cubits and its circumference thirty cubits.
3
Now figures like oxen appeared under it and all around it, ten cubits, entirely encircling the sea.
The oxen appeared in two rows, cast in one piece.
4
It stood on twelve oxen, three facing the north, three facing west, three facing south and three
facing east; and the sea they set on top of them and all their hindquarters turned inwards.
5
It measured a handbreadth thick, and its brim they made like the brim of a cup, like a lily
blossom; it could hold 3,000 baths.
6
He also made ten basins in which to wash, and he set five on the right side and five on the left to
rinse things for the burnt offering; but the sea they made for the priests to wash in.
7
Then he made the ten golden lampstands in the way prescribed for them and he set them in the
temple, five on the right side and five on the left.
8
He also made ten tables and placed them in the temple, five on the right side and five on the left.
And he made one hundred golden bowls.
9
Then he made the court of the priests and the great court and doors for the court, and overlaid
their doors with bronze.
10
He set the sea on the right side of the house toward the southeast.
11
Huram also made the pails, the shovels and the bowls. So Huram finished doing the work
which he performed for King Solomon in the house of God:
12
the two pillars, the bowls and the two capitals on top of the pillars, and the two networks to
cover the two bowls of the capitals stood on top of the pillars,
13
and the four hundred pomegranates for the two networks, two rows of pomegranates for each
network to cover the two bowls of the capitals which stood on the pillars.
14
He also made the stands and he made the basins on the stands,
15
and the one sea with the twelve oxen under it.
16
The pails, the shovels, the forks and all its utensils, Huram-abi made of polished bronze for
King Solomon for the house of the LORD.
17
On the plain of the Jordan the king cast them in the clay ground between Succoth and Zeredah.
18
Thus Solomon made all these utensils in great quantities, for the weight of the bronze they
could not find out.
19
Solomon also made all the things that stood in the house of God: even the golden altar, the
tables with the bread of the Presence on them,
20
the lampstands with their lamps of pure gold, to burn in front of the inner sanctuary in the way
prescribed;
21
the flowers, the lamps, and the tongs of gold, of purest gold;
22
and the snuffers, the bowls, the spoons and the firepans of pure gold; and the entrance of the
house, its inner doors for the holy of holies and the doors of the house, namely, of the nave, of
gold.
2 Chronicles 5

NASB E-Prime DFM

The Ark Brought into the Temple


1
Thus all the work that Solomon performed for the house of the LORD had come to a
conclusion. And Solomon brought in the things that David his father had dedicated, even the
silver and the gold and all the utensils, and put them in the treasuries of the house of God.
2
Then Solomon assembled to Jerusalem the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the
leaders of the fathers' households of the sons of Israel, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the
LORD out of the city of David, which we call Zion.
3
All the men of Israel assembled themselves to the king at the feast, that we mark in the seventh
month.
4
Then all the elders of Israel came, and the Levites took up the ark.
5
They brought up the ark and the tent of meeting and all the holy utensils which stood in the tent;
the Levitical priests brought them up.
6
And King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel who assembled with him before the ark,
sacrificed so many sheep and oxen that they could not count or number.
7
Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its place, into the inner
sanctuary of the house, to the holy of holies, under the wings of the cherubim.
8
For the cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark, so that the cherubim made a
covering over the ark and its poles.
9
The poles appeared so long that the ends of the poles of the ark people could see in front of the
inner sanctuary, but they could not see them outside; and they stand here to this day.
10
They placed nothing in the ark except the two tablets which Moses put there at Horeb, where
the LORD made a covenant with the sons of Israel, when they came out of Egypt.

The Glory of God Fills the Temple


11
When the priests came forth from the holy place (for all the priests who presented themselves
had sanctified themselves, without regard to divisions),
12
and all the Levitical singers, Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and their sons and kinsmen, clothed in
fine linen, with cymbals, harps and lyres, standing east of the altar, and with them one hundred
and twenty priests blowing trumpets
13
in unison when the trumpeters and the singers would prepare to make themselves heard with
one voice to praise and to glorify the LORD, and when they lifted up their voice accompanied by
trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and when they praised the LORD saying, "We
acknowledge Him as good for His lovingkindness lasts forever," then the house, the house of the
LORD filled with a cloud,
14
so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD
filled the house of God.

2 Chronicles 6

NASB E-Prime DFM

Solomon's Dedication
1
Then Solomon said, "The LORD has said that He would dwell in the thick cloud.
2
"I have built You a lofty house, and a place for Your dwelling forever."
3
Then the king faced about and blessed all the assembly of Israel, while all the assembly of Israel
stood.
4
He said, "We blessed the LORD, the God of Israel, who spoke with His mouth to my father
David and has fulfilled it with His hands, saying,
5
'Since the day that I brought My people from the land of Egypt, I did not choose a city out of all
the tribes of Israel in which to build a house that My name they might place there, nor did I
choose any man for a leader over My people Israel;
6
but I have chosen Jerusalem that My name might remain there, and I have chosen David to rule
over My people Israel.'
7
"Now it emanated from the heart of my father David to build a house for the name of the
LORD, the God of Israel.
8
"But the LORD said to my father David, 'Because it emanated from your heart to build a house
for My name, you did well that it emanated from your heart.
9
'Nevertheless you shall not build the house, but your son shall build the house for My name.'
10
"Now the LORD has fulfilled His word which He spoke; for I have risen in the place of my
father David and sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised, and have built the house for
the name of the LORD, the God of Israel.
11
"There I have set the ark in which dwells the covenant of the LORD, which He made with the
sons of Israel."

Solomon's Prayer of Dedication


12
Then he stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and
spread out his hands.
13
Now Solomon had made a bronze platform, five cubits long, five cubits wide and three cubits
high, and had set it in the midst of the court; and he stood on it, knelt on his knees in the presence
of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven.
14
He said, "O LORD, the God of Israel, we recognize no god like You in heaven or on earth,
keeping covenant and showing lovingkindness to Your servants who walk before You with all
their heart;
15
who has kept with Your servant David, my father, that which You have promised him; indeed
You have spoken with Your mouth and have fulfilled it with Your hand, as it has become this day.
16
"Now therefore, O LORD, the God of Israel, keep with Your servant David, my father, that
which You have promised him, saying, 'You shall not lack a man to sit on the throne of Israel, if
only your sons take heed to their way, to walk in My law as you have walked before Me.'
17
"Now therefore, O LORD, the God of Israel, let Your word become confirmed which You have
spoken to Your servant David.
18
"But will God indeed dwell with mankind on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven
cannot contain You; how much less this house which I have built.
19
"Yet have regard to the prayer of Your servant and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to
listen to the cry and to the prayer which Your servant prays before You;
20
that Your eye may open toward this house day and night, toward the place of which You have
said that You would put Your name there, to listen to the prayer which Your servant shall pray
toward this place.
21
"Listen to the supplications of Your servant and of Your people Israel when they pray toward
this place; hear from Your dwelling place, from heaven; hear and forgive.
22
"If a man sins against his neighbor and needs to take an oath, and he comes and takes an oath
before Your altar in this house,
23
then hear from heaven and act and judge Your servants, punishing the wicked by bringing his
way on his own head and justifying the righteous by giving him according to his righteousness.
24
"If Your people Israel suffer defeat before an enemy because they have sinned against You, and
they return to You and confess Your name, and pray and make supplication before You in this
house,
25
then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of Your people Israel, and bring them back to the
land which You have given to them and to their fathers.
26
"When we find the heavens shut up and we have no rain because they have sinned against You,
and they pray toward this place and confess Your name, and turn from their sin when You afflict
them;
27
then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of Your servants and Your people Israel, indeed, teach
them the good way in which they should walk. And send rain on Your land which You have
given to Your people for an inheritance.
28
"If a famine occurs in the land, if pestilence occurs, if blight occurs or mildew, if locust or
grasshopper occur, if their enemies besiege them in the land of their cities, whatever plague or
whatever sickness occurs,
29
whatever prayer or supplication comes from any man or by all Your people Israel, each
knowing his own affliction and his own pain, and spreading his hands toward this house,
30
then hear from heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive, and render to each according to all his
ways, whose heart You know for You alone know the hearts of the sons of men,
31
that they may fear You, to walk in Your ways as long as they live in the land which You have
given to our fathers.
32
"Also concerning the foreigner who does not belong to Your people Israel, when he comes from
a far country for Your great name's sake and Your mighty hand and Your outstretched arm, when
they come and pray toward this house,
33
then hear from heaven, from Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the
foreigner calls to You, in order that all the peoples of the earth may know Your name, and fear
You as do Your people Israel, and that they may know that this house which I have built we call
by Your name.
34
"When Your people go out to battle against their enemies, by whatever way You shall send
them, and they pray to You toward this city which You have chosen and the house which I have
built for Your name,
35
then hear from heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause.
36
"When they sin against You (for no man lives who does not sin) and You have anger with them
and deliver them to an enemy, so that they take them away captive to a land far off or near,
37
if they take thought in the land where they fall captive, and repent and make supplication to
You in the land of their captivity, saying, 'We have sinned, we have committed iniquity and have
acted wickedly';
38
if they return to You with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity,
where they have fallen captive, and pray toward their land which You have given to their fathers
and the city which You have chosen, and toward the house which I have built for Your name,
39
then hear from heaven, from Your dwelling place, their prayer and supplications, and maintain
their cause and forgive Your people who have sinned against You.
40
"Now, O my God, I pray, let Your eyes open and Your ears become attentive to the prayer
offered in this place.
41
"Now therefore arise, O LORD God, to Your resting place, You and the ark of Your might; let
Your priests, O LORD God, become clothed with salvation and let Your godly ones rejoice in
good.
42
"O LORD God, do not turn away the face of Your anointed; remember Your lovingkindness to
Your servant David."

2 Chronicles 7

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The Shekinah Glory


1
Now when Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt
offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the house.
2
The priests could not enter into the house of the LORD because the glory of the LORD filled the
LORD'S house.
3
All the sons of Israel, seeing the fire come down and the glory of the LORD upon the house,
bowed down on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave praise
to the LORD, saying, "Truly He demonstrates goodness, truly His lovingkindness lasts forever."

Sacrifices Offered
4
Then the king and all the people offered sacrifice before the LORD.
5
King Solomon offered a sacrifice of 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. Thus the king and all the
people dedicated the house of God.
6
The priests stood at their posts, and the Levites also, with the instruments of music to the
LORD, which King David had made for giving praise to the LORD--"for His lovingkindness
lasts forever"--whenever he gave praise by their means, while the priests on the other side blew
trumpets; and all Israel stood.
7
Then Solomon consecrated the middle of the court that stood before the house of the LORD, for
there he offered the burnt offerings and the fat of the peace offerings because the bronze altar
which Solomon had made could not contain the burnt offering, the grain offering and the fat.

The Feast of Dedication


8
So Solomon observed the feast at that time for seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great
assembly who came from the entrance of Hamath to the brook of Egypt.
9
On the eighth day they held a solemn assembly, for the dedication of the altar they observed
seven days and the feast seven days.
10
Then on the twenty-third day of the seventh month he sent the people to their tents, rejoicing
and happy of heart because of the goodness that the LORD had shown to David and to Solomon
and to His people Israel.

God's Promise and Warning


11
Thus Solomon finished the house of the LORD and the king's palace, and successfully
completed all that he had planned on doing in the house of the LORD and in his palace.
12
Then the LORD appeared to Solomon at night and said to him, "I have heard your prayer and
have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice.
13
"If I shut up the heavens so that it does not rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land,
or if I send pestilence among My people,
14
and My people who want to take My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and
turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal
their land.
15
"Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayer offered in this place.
16
"For now I have chosen and consecrated this house that My name may remain there forever,
and My eyes and My heart will remain there perpetually.
17
"As for you, if you walk before Me as your father David walked, even to do according to all
that I have commanded you, and will keep My statutes and My ordinances,
18
then I will establish your royal throne as I covenanted with your father David, saying, 'You
shall not lack a man to rule in Israel.'
19
"But if you turn away and forsake My statutes and My commandments which I have set before
you, and go and serve other gods and worship them,
20
then I will uproot you from My land which I have given you, and this house which I have
consecrated for My name I will cast out of My sight and I will make it a proverb and a byword
among all peoples.
21
"As for this house, which received exaltation, everyone who passes by it will be astonished and
say, 'Why has the LORD done thus to this land and to this house?'
22
"And they will say, 'Because they forsook the LORD, the God of their fathers who brought
them from the land of Egypt, and they adopted other gods and worshiped them and served them;
therefore He has brought all this adversity on them.'"

2 Chronicles 8

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Solomon's Activities and Accomplishments


1
Now it came about at the end of the twenty years in which Solomon had built the house of the
LORD and his own house
2
that he built the cities which Huram had given to him, and settled the sons of Israel there.
3
Then Solomon went to Hamath-zobah and captured it.
4
He built Tadmor in the wilderness and all the storage cities which he had built in Hamath.
5
He also built upper Beth-horon and lower Beth-horon, fortified cities with walls, gates and bars;
6
and Baalath and all the storage cities that Solomon had, and all the cities for his chariots and
cities for his horsemen, and all that it pleased Solomon to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in
all the land under his rule.
7
All of the people who remained of the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites and the
Jebusites, who did not belong to Israel,
8
namely, from their descendants who remained after them in the land whom the sons of Israel
had not destroyed, them Solomon raised as forced laborers to this day.
9
But Solomon did not make slaves for his work from the sons of Israel; they served as men of
war, his chief captains and commanders of his chariots and his horsemen.
10
These serves as the chief officers of King Solomon, two hundred and fifty who ruled over the
people.
11
Then Solomon brought Pharaoh's daughter up from the city of David to the house which he had
built for her, for he said, "My wife shall not dwell in the house of David king of Israel, because
the places we regard as holy where the ark of the LORD has entered."
12
Then Solomon offered burnt offerings to the LORD on the altar of the LORD which he had
built before the porch;
13
and did so according to the daily rule, offering them up according to the commandment of
Moses, for the sabbaths, the new moons and the three annual feasts--the Feast of Unleavened
Bread, the Feast of Weeks and the Feast of Booths.
14
Now according to the ordinance of his father David, he appointed the divisions of the priests for
their service, and the Levites for their duties of praise and ministering before the priests
according to the daily rule, and the gatekeepers by their divisions at every gate; for David the
man of God had so commanded.
15
And they did not depart from the commandment of the king to the priests and Levites in any
manner or concerning the storehouses.
16
Thus all the work of Solomon they carried out from the day of the foundation of the house of
the LORD, and until it became completed. So the house of the LORD reached completion.
17
Then Solomon went to Ezion-geber and to Eloth on the seashore in the land of Edom.
18
And Huram by his servants sent him ships and servants who knew the sea; and they went with
Solomon's servants to Ophir, and took from there four hundred and fifty talents of gold and
brought them to King Solomon.
2 Chronicles 9

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Visit of the Queen of Sheba


1
Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to Jerusalem to test
Solomon with difficult questions. She had a very large retinue, with camels carrying spices and a
large amount of gold and precious stones; and when she came to Solomon, she spoke with him
about everything in her heart.
2
Solomon answered all her questions; and Solomon hid nothing from her which he did not
explain to her.
3
When the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon, the house which he had built,
4
the food at his table, the seating of his servants, the attendance of his ministers and their attire,
his cupbearers and their attire, and his stairway by which he went up to the house of the LORD,
she grew breathless.
5
Then she said to the king, "It appears a true report which I heard in my own land about your
words and your wisdom.
6
"Nevertheless I did not believe their reports until I came and my eyes had seen it. And behold,
the half of the greatness of your wisdom I did not hear about. You surpass the report that I heard.
7
"How blessed do I consider your men, how blessed do I consider your servants who stand before
you continually and hear your wisdom.
8
"We bless the LORD your God who delighted in you, setting you on His throne as king for the
LORD your God; because your God loved Israel establishing them forever, therefore He made
you king over them, to do justice and righteousness."
9
Then she gave the king one hundred and twenty talents of gold and a very great amount of
spices and precious stones; they never had spice like that which the queen of Sheba gave to King
Solomon.
10
The servants of Huram and the servants of Solomon who brought gold from Ophir, also brought
algum trees and precious stones.
11
From the algum trees the king made steps for the house of the LORD and for the king's palace,
and lyres and harps for the singers; and none like that ever appeared before in the land of Judah.
12
King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire which she requested besides a return
for what she had brought to the king. Then she turned and went to her own land with her
servants.
Solomon's Wealth and Power
13
Now the weight of gold which came to Solomon in one year exceeded 666 talents of gold,
14
besides that which the traders and merchants brought; and all the kings of Arabia and the
governors of the country brought gold and silver to Solomon.
15
King Solomon made 200 large shields of beaten gold, using 600 shekels of beaten gold on each
large shield.
16
He made 300 shields of beaten gold, using three hundred shekels of gold on each shield, and
the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon.
17
Moreover, the king made a great throne of ivory and overlaid it with pure gold.
18
The throne and footstool had six steps in gold attached to the throne, and arms on each side of
the seat, and two lions standing beside the arms.
19
Twelve lions stood there on the six steps on the one side and on the other; no one made
anything like it for any other kingdom.
20
All King Solomon's drinking vessels consisted of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the
forest of Lebanon consisted of pure gold; silver did not have value in the days of Solomon.
21
For the king had ships which went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram; once every three
years the ships of Tarshish came bringing gold and silver, ivory and apes and peacocks.
22
So King Solomon became greater than all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom.
23
And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom which God
had put in his heart.
24
They brought every man his gift, articles of silver and gold, garments, weapons, spices, horses
and mules, so much year by year.
25
Now Solomon had 4,000 stalls for horses and chariots and 12,000 horsemen, and he stationed
them in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem.
26
He served as the ruler over all the kings from the Euphrates River even to the land of the
Philistines, and as far as the border of Egypt.
27
The king made silver as common as stones in Jerusalem, and he made cedars as plentiful as
sycamore trees that grow in the lowland.
28
And they brought horses for Solomon from Egypt and from all countries.
29
Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, from first to last, do we not read them in the records of
Nathan the prophet, and in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the
seer concerning Jeroboam the son of Nebat?
30
Solomon reigned forty years in Jerusalem over all Israel.

Death of Solomon
31
And Solomon slept with his fathers and they buried him in the city of his father David; and his
son Rehoboam reigned in his place.

2 Chronicles 10

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Rehoboam's Reign of Folly


1
Then Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king.
2
When Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard of it (for he lived in Egypt where he had fled from the
presence of King Solomon), Jeroboam returned from Egypt.
3
So they sent and summoned him. When Jeroboam and all Israel came, they spoke to Rehoboam,
saying,
4
"Your father made our yoke hard; now therefore lighten the hard service of your father and his
heavy yoke which he put on us, and we will serve you."
5
He said to them, "Return to me again in three days." So the people departed.
6
Then King Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had served his father Solomon while he
still lived, saying, "How do you counsel me to answer this people?"
7
They spoke to him, saying, "If you will show kindness to this people and please them and speak
good words to them, then they will serve you forever."
8
But he forsook the counsel of the elders which they had given him, and consulted with the
young men who grew up with him and served him.
9
So he said to them, "What counsel do you give that we may answer this people, who have
spoken to me, saying, 'Lighten the yoke which your father put on us'?"
10
The young men who grew up with him spoke to him, saying, "Thus you shall say to the people
who spoke to you, saying, 'Your father made our yoke heavy, but you make it lighter for us.'
Thus you shall say to them, 'My little finger shall seem thicker than my father's loins!
11
'Whereas my father loaded you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke; my father
disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.'"
12
So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day as the king had directed,
saying, "Return to me on the third day."
13
The king answered them harshly, and King Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the elders.
14
He spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, saying, "My father made your
yoke heavy, but I will add to it; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you
with scorpions."
15
So the king did not listen to the people, for it served a turn of events from God that the LORD
might establish His word, which He spoke through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of
Nebat.
16
When all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them the people answered the king, saying,
"What portion do we have in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. Every man to
your tents, O Israel; Now look after your own house, David." So all Israel departed to their tents.
17
But as for the sons of Israel who lived in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.
18
Then King Rehoboam sent Hadoram, who presided over the forced labor, and the sons of Israel
stoned him to death. And King Rehoboam made haste to mount his chariot to flee to Jerusalem.
19
So Israel has rebelled against the house of David to this day.

2 Chronicles 11

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Rehoboam Reigns over Judah and Builds Cities


1
Now when Rehoboam had come to Jerusalem, he assembled the house of Judah and Benjamin,
180,000 chosen men who served as warriors, to fight against Israel to restore the kingdom to
Rehoboam.
2
But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,
3
"Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and
Benjamin, saying,
4
'Thus says the LORD, "You shall not go up or fight against your relatives; return every man to
his house, for this thing came from Me."'" So they listened to the words of the LORD and
returned from going against Jeroboam.
5
Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem and built cities for defense in Judah.
6
Thus he built Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,
7
Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam,
8
Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,
9
Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah,
10
Zorah, Aijalon and Hebron, which he built as fortified cities in Judah and in Benjamin.
11
He also strengthened the fortresses and put officers in them and stores of food, oil and wine.
12
He put shields and spears in every city and strengthened them greatly. So he held Judah and
Benjamin.
13
Moreover, the priests and the Levites who lived in all Israel stood with him from all their
districts.

Jeroboam Appoints False Priests


14
For the Levites left their pasture lands and their property and came to Judah and Jerusalem, for
Jeroboam and his sons had excluded them from serving as priests to the LORD.
15
He set up priests of his own for the high places, for the satyrs and for the calves which he had
made.
16
Those from all the tribes of Israel who set their hearts on seeking the LORD God of Israel
followed them to Jerusalem, to sacrifice to the LORD God of their fathers.
17
They strengthened the kingdom of Judah and supported Rehoboam the son of Solomon for
three years, for they walked in the way of David and Solomon for three years.

Rehoboam's Family
18
Then Rehoboam took as a wife Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David and of
Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse,
19
and she bore him sons: Jeush, Shemariah and Zaham.
20
After her he took Maacah the daughter of Absalom, and she bore him Abijah, Attai, Ziza and
Shelomith.
21
Rehoboam loved Maacah the daughter of Absalom more than all his other wives and
concubines. For he had taken eighteen wives and sixty concubines and fathered twenty-eight
sons and sixty daughters.
22
Rehoboam appointed Abijah the son of Maacah as head and leader among his brothers, for he
intended to make him king.
23
He acted wisely and distributed some of his sons through all the territories of Judah and
Benjamin to all the fortified cities, and he gave them food in abundance. And he sought many
wives for them.

2 Chronicles 12

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Shishak of Egypt Invades Judah


1
When the kingdom of Rehoboam became established and strong, he and all Israel with him
forsook the law of the LORD.
2
And it came about in King Rehoboam's fifth year, because they had proved unfaithful to the
LORD, that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem
3
with 1,200 chariots and 60,000 horsemen. And the people who came with him from Egypt
appeared without number: the Lubim, the Sukkiim and the Ethiopians.
4
He captured the fortified cities of Judah and came as far as Jerusalem.
5
Then Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam and the princes of Judah who had gathered at
Jerusalem because of Shishak, and he said to them, "Thus says the LORD, 'You have forsaken
Me, so I also have forsaken you to Shishak.'"
6
So the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, "The LORD has
righteousness."
7
When the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah,
saying, "They have humbled themselves so I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some
measure of deliverance, and My wrath shall not pour out on Jerusalem by means of Shishak.
8
"But they will become his slaves so that they may learn the difference between My service and
the service of the kingdoms of the countries."

Plunder Impoverishes Judah


9
So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, and took the treasures of the house of the
LORD and the treasures of the king's palace. He took everything; he even took the golden shields
which Solomon had made.
10
Then King Rehoboam made shields of bronze in their place and committed them to the care of
the commanders of the guard who guarded the door of the king's house.
11
As often as the king entered the house of the LORD, the guards came and carried them and then
brought them back into the guards' room.
12
And when he humbled himself, the anger of the LORD turned away from him, so as not to
destroy him completely; and also conditions remained good in Judah.
13
So King Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem and reigned. Now Rehoboam reached
forty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city
which the LORD had chosen from all the tribes of Israel, to put His name there. And his mother
had the name of Naamah the Ammonitess.
14
He did evil because he did not set his heart to seek the LORD.
15
Now the acts of Rehoboam, from first to last, have we not read them in the records of
Shemaiah the prophet and of Iddo the seer, according to genealogical enrollment? And wars
erupted between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually.
16
And Rehoboam slept with his fathers and they buried him in the city of David; and his son
Abijah became king in his place.

2 Chronicles 13

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Abijah Succeeds Rehoboam


1
In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, Abijah became king over Judah.
2
He reigned three years in Jerusalem; and his mother had the name of Micaiah the daughter of
Uriel of Gibeah. Now there erupted war between Abijah and Jeroboam.
3
Abijah began the battle with an army of valiant warriors, 400,000 chosen men, while Jeroboam
drew up in battle formation against him with 800,000 chosen men who served as valiant
warriors.

Civil War
4
Then Abijah stood on Mount Zemaraim, which lies in the hill country of Ephraim, and said,
"Listen to me, Jeroboam and all Israel:
5
"Do you not know that the LORD God of Israel gave the rule over Israel forever to David and
his sons by a covenant of salt?
6
"Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon the son of David, rose up and rebelled
against his master,
7
and worthless men gathered about him, scoundrels, who proved too strong for Rehoboam, the
son of Solomon, when young and timid and could not hold his own against them.
8
"So now you intend to resist the kingdom of the LORD through the sons of David, consisting a
great multitude and having with you the golden calves which Jeroboam made for gods for you.
9
"Have you not driven out the priests of the LORD, the sons of Aaron and the Levites, and made
for yourselves priests like the peoples of other lands? Whoever comes to consecrate himself with
a young bull and seven rams, even he may become a priest of no gods.
10
"But as for us, we acknowledge the LORD as our God, and we have not forsaken Him; and the
sons of Aaron minister to the LORD as priests, and the Levites attend to their work.
11
"Every morning and evening they burn to the LORD burnt offerings and fragrant incense, and
the showbread stands on the clean table, and the golden lampstand with its lamps ready to light
every evening; for we keep the charge of the LORD our God, but you have forsaken Him.
12
"Now behold, God stands with us at our head and His priests with the signal trumpets to sound
the alarm against you. O sons of Israel, do not fight against the LORD God of your fathers, for
you will not succeed."
13
But Jeroboam had set an ambush to come from the rear, so that Israel stayed in front of Judah
and the ambush remained behind them.
14
When Judah turned around, behold, they suffered attack from both front and rear; so they cried
to the LORD, and the priests blew the trumpets.
15
Then the men of Judah raised a war cry, and when the men of Judah raised the war cry, then
God routed Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah.
16
When the sons of Israel fled before Judah, God gave them into their hand.
17
Abijah and his people defeated them with a great slaughter, so that 500,000 chosen men of
Israel fell slain.
18
Thus the sons of Israel became subdued at that time, and the sons of Judah conquered because
they trusted in the LORD, the God of their fathers.
19
Abijah pursued Jeroboam and captured from him several cities, Bethel with its villages,
Jeshanah with its villages and Ephron with its villages.

Death of Jeroboam
20
Jeroboam did not again recover strength in the days of Abijah; and the LORD struck him and
he died.
21
But Abijah became powerful; and took fourteen wives to himself, and became the father of
twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.
22
Now the rest of the acts of Abijah, and his ways and his words we read in the treatise of the
prophet Iddo

2 Chronicles 14

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Asa Succeeds Abijah in Judah


1
So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David, and his son Asa
became king in his place. The land remained undisturbed for ten years during his days.
2
Asa did good and right in the sight of the LORD his God,
3
for he removed the foreign altars and high places, tore down the sacred pillars, cut down the
Asherim,
4
and commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers and to observe the law and the
commandment.
5
He also removed the high places and the incense altars from all the cities of Judah. And the
kingdom continued undisturbed under him.
6
He built fortified cities in Judah, since the land remained undisturbed, and no one warred with
him during those years, because the LORD had given him rest.
7
For he said to Judah, "Let us build these cities and surround them with walls and towers, gates
and bars. The land still belongs to us because we have sought the LORD our God; we have
sought Him, and He has given us rest on every side." So they built and prospered.
8
Now Asa had an army of 300,000 from Judah, bearing large shields and spears, and 280,000
from Benjamin, bearing shields and wielding bows; all of them proved themselves valiant
warriors.
9
Now Zerah the Ethiopian came out against them with an army of a million men and 300
chariots, and he came to Mareshah.
10
So Asa went out to meet him, and they drew up in battle formation in the valley of Zephathah at
Mareshah.
11
Then Asa called to the LORD his God and said, "LORD, there exists no one besides You to
help in the battle between the powerful and those who have no strength; so help us, O LORD our
God, for we trust in You, and in Your name have come against this multitude. O LORD, we
acknowledge You as our God; let not man prevail against You."
12
So the LORD routed the Ethiopians before Asa and before Judah, and the Ethiopians fled.
13
Asa and the people who accompanied him pursued them as far as Gerar; and so many
Ethiopians fell that they could not recover, for they shattered before the LORD and before His
army. And they carried away very much plunder.
14
They destroyed all the cities around Gerar, for the dread of the LORD had fallen on them; and
they despoiled all the cities, for they found much plunder in them.
15
They also struck down those who owned livestock, and they carried away large numbers of
sheep and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 15

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The Prophet Azariah Warns Asa


1
Now the Spirit of God came on Azariah the son of Oded,
2
and he went out to meet Asa and said to him, "Listen to me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin:
the LORD remains with you when you remain with Him And if you seek Him, He will let you
find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.
3
"For many days Israel did not have the true God and without a teaching priest and without law.
4
"But in their distress they turned to the LORD God of Israel, and they sought Him, and He let
them find Him.
5
"In those times no peace came to him who went out or to him who came in, for many
disturbances afflicted all the inhabitants of the lands.
6
"Nation became crushed by nation, and city by city, for God troubled them with every kind of
distress.
7
"But you, remain strong and do not lose courage, for there remains a reward for your work."

Asa's Reforms
8
Now when Asa heard these words and the prophecy which Azariah the son of Oded the prophet
spoke, he took courage and removed the abominable idols from all the land of Judah and
Benjamin and from the cities which he had captured in the hill country of Ephraim. He then
restored the altar of the LORD which stood in front of the porch of the LORD.
9
He gathered all Judah and Benjamin and those from Ephraim, Manasseh and Simeon who
resided with them, for many defected to him from Israel when they saw that the LORD his God
remained with him.
10
So they assembled at Jerusalem in the third month of the fifteenth year of Asa's reign.
11
They sacrificed to the LORD that day 700 oxen and 7,000 sheep from the spoil they had
brought.
12
They entered into the covenant to seek the LORD God of their fathers with all their heart and
soul;
13
and whoever would not seek the LORD God of Israel should receive the death penalty, whether
small or great, man or woman.
14
Moreover, they made an oath to the LORD with a loud voice, with shouting, with trumpets and
with horns.
15
All Judah rejoiced concerning the oath, for they had sworn with their whole heart and had
sought Him earnestly, and He let them find Him. So the LORD gave them rest on every side.
16
He also removed Maacah, the mother of King Asa, from the position of queen mother, because
she had made a horrid image as an Asherah, and Asa cut down her horrid image, crushed it and
burned it at the brook Kidron.
17
But the high places he did not remove from Israel; nevertheless Asa's heart remained blameless
all his days.
18
He brought into the house of God the dedicated things of his father and his own dedicated
things: silver and gold and utensils.
19
And there erupted no more war until the thirty-fifth year of Asa's reign.

2 Chronicles 16

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Asa Wars against Baasha


1
In the thirty-sixth year of Asa's reign Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah and fortified
Ramah in order to prevent anyone from going out or coming in to Asa king of Judah.
2
Then Asa brought out silver and gold from the treasuries of the house of the LORD and the
king's house, and sent them to Ben-hadad king of Aram, who lived in Damascus, saying,
3
"Let us have a treaty between you and me, as between my father and your father. Behold, I have
sent you silver and gold; go, break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel so that he will
withdraw from me."
4
So Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of
Israel, and they conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel-maim and all the store cities of Naphtali.
5
When Baasha heard of it, he ceased fortifying Ramah and stopped his work.
6
Then King Asa brought all Judah, and they carried away the stones of Ramah and its timber
with which Baasha had built, and with them he fortified Geba and Mizpah.

Asa Imprisons the Prophet


7
At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him, "Because you have
relied on the king of Aram and have not relied on the LORD your God, therefore the army of the
king of Aram has escaped out of your hand.
8
"Did you not consider the Ethiopians and the Lubim an immense army with very many chariots
and horsemen? Yet because you relied on the LORD, He delivered them into your hand.
9
"For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support
those whose heart belongs totally to Him. You have acted foolishly in this. Indeed, from now on
you will surely have wars."
10
Then Asa became angry with the seer and put him in prison, for he became enraged at him for
this. And Asa oppressed some of the people at the same time.
11
Now, the acts of Asa from first to last, behold, we read about them in the Book of the Kings of
Judah and Israel.
12
In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa became diseased in his feet. His disease became severe,
yet even in his disease he did not seek the LORD, but the physicians.
13
So Asa slept with his fathers, having died in the forty-first year of his reign.
14
They buried him in his own tomb which he had cut out for himself in the city of David, and
they laid him in the resting place which he had filled with spices of various kinds blended by the
perfumers' art; and they made a very great fire for him.

2 Chronicles 17

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Jehoshaphat Succeeds Asa


1
Jehoshaphat his son then became king in his place, and made his position over Israel firm.
2
He placed troops in all the fortified cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah and in
the cities of Ephraim which Asa his father had captured.

His Good Reign


3
The LORD remained with Jehoshaphat because he followed the example of his father David's
earlier days and did not seek the Baals,
4
but sought the God of his father, followed His commandments, and did not act as Israel did.
5
So the LORD established the kingdom in his control, and all Judah brought tribute to
Jehoshaphat, and he had great riches and honor.
6
He took great pride in the ways of the LORD and again removed the high places and the
Asherim from Judah.
7
Then in the third year of his reign he sent his officials, Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel
and Micaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah;
8
and with them the Levites, Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan,
Adonijah, Tobijah and Tobadonijah, the Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, the
priests.
9
They taught in Judah, having the book of the law of the LORD with them; and they went
throughout all the cities of Judah and taught among the people.
10
Now the dread of the LORD fell on all the kingdoms of the lands which lay around Judah, so
that they did not make war against Jehoshaphat.
11
Some of the Philistines brought gifts and silver as tribute to Jehoshaphat; the Arabians also
brought him flocks, 7,700 rams and 7,700 male goats.
12
So Jehoshaphat grew greater and greater, and he built fortresses and store cities in Judah.
13
He had large supplies in the cities of Judah, and warriors, valiant men, in Jerusalem.
14
This consisted of their muster according to their fathers' households: of Judah, commanders of
thousands, Adnah became the commander, and with him 300,000 valiant warriors;
15
and next to him we identify as Johanan the commander, and with him 280,000;
16
and next to him Amasiah the son of Zichri, who volunteered for the LORD, and with him
200,000 valiant warriors;
17
and of Benjamin, Eliada a valiant warrior, and with him 200,000 armed with bow and shield;
18
and next to him Jehozabad, and with him 180,000 equipped for war.
19
These served the king, apart from those whom the king put in the fortified cities through all
Judah.

2 Chronicles 18

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Jehoshaphat Allies with Ahab


1
Now Jehoshaphat had great riches and honor; and he allied himself by marriage with Ahab.
2
Some years later he went down to visit Ahab at Samaria. And Ahab slaughtered many sheep and
oxen for him and the people who accompanied him, and induced him to go up against Ramoth-
gilead.
3
Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, "Will you go with me against Ramoth-
gilead?" And he said to him, "I consider myself as you, and my people as your people, and we
will accompany you in the battle."
4
Moreover, Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, "Please inquire first for the word of the
LORD."
5
Then the king of Israel assembled the prophets, four hundred men, and said to them, "Shall we
go against Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I refrain?" And they said, "Go up, for God will give it
into the hand of the king."
6
But Jehoshaphat said, "Do we not yet have a prophet of the LORD here that we may inquire of
him?"
7
The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "There remains yet one man by whom we may inquire of
the LORD, but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me but always evil. He has
the name of Micaiah, son of Imla." But Jehoshaphat said, "Let not the king say so."

Ahab's False Prophets Assure Victory


8
Then the king of Israel called an officer and said, "Bring quickly Micaiah, Imla's son."
9
Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah sat on his throne, arrayed in their
robes, and they sat at the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the
prophets prophesied before them.
10
Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made horns of iron for himself and said, "Thus says the LORD,
'With these you shall gore the Arameans until you consume them.'"
11
All the prophets prophesied thus, saying, "Go up to Ramoth-gilead and succeed, for the LORD
will give it into the hand of the king."

Micaiah Brings Word from God


12
Then the messenger who went to summon Micaiah spoke to him saying, "Behold, the words of
the prophets seem uniformly favorable to the king. So please let your word resemble one of them
and speak favorably."
13
But Micaiah said, "As the LORD lives, what my God says, that I will speak."
14
When he came to the king, the king said to him, "Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to
battle, or shall I refrain?" He said, "Go up and succeed, for they will fall into your hand."
15
Then the king said to him, "How many times must I adjure you to speak to me nothing but the
truth in the name of the LORD?"
16
So he said, "I saw all Israel Scattered on the mountains, like sheep which have no
shepherd; And the LORD said, 'These have no master. Let each of them return to his house in
peace.'"
17
Then the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy good
concerning me, but evil?"
18
Micaiah said, "Therefore, hear the word of the LORD. I saw the LORD sitting on His throne,
and all the host of heaven standing on His right and on His left.
19
"The LORD said, 'Who will entice Ahab king of Israel to go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?' And
one said this while another said that.
20
"Then a spirit came forward and stood before the LORD and said, 'I will entice him.' And the
LORD said to him, 'How?'
21
"He said, 'I will go and become a deceiving spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.' Then He
said, 'You will entice him and prevail also. Go and do so.'
22
"Now therefore, behold, the LORD has put a deceiving spirit in the mouth of these your
prophets, for the LORD has proclaimed disaster against you."
23
Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near and struck Micaiah on the cheek and said,
"How did the Spirit of the LORD pass from me to speak to you?"
24
Micaiah said, "Behold, you will see on that day when you enter an inner room to hide yourself."
25
Then the king of Israel said, "Take Micaiah and return him to Amon the governor of the city
and to Joash the king's son;
26
and say, 'Thus says the king, "Put this man in prison and feed him sparingly with bread and
water until I return safely."'"
27
Micaiah said, "If you indeed return safely, the LORD has not spoken by me." And he said,
"Listen, all you people."

Ahab's Defeat and Death


28
So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up against Ramoth-gilead.
29
The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you put on
your robes." So the king of Israel disguised himself, and they went into battle.
30
Now the king of Aram had commanded the captains of his chariots, saying, "Do not fight with
small or great, but with the king of Israel alone."
31
So when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, "We see the king of Israel,"
and they turned aside to fight against him. But Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him,
and God diverted them from him.
32
When the captains of the chariots saw that the king of Israel did not appear there, they turned
back from pursuing him.
33
A certain man drew his bow at random and struck the king of Israel in a joint of the armor. So
he said to the driver of the chariot, "Turn around and take me out of the fight, for I have become
severely wounded."
34
The battle raged that day, and the king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot in front of the
Arameans until the evening; and at sunset he died.

2 Chronicles 19

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Jehu Rebukes Jehoshaphat


1
Then Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned in safety to his house in Jerusalem.
2
Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him and said to King Jehoshaphat, "Should
you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD and so bring wrath on yourself from the
LORD?
3
"But I find some good in you, for you have removed the Asheroth from the land and you have
set your heart to seek God."
4
So Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem and went out again among the people from Beersheba to the
hill country of Ephraim and brought them back to the LORD, the God of their fathers.

Reforms Instituted
5
He appointed judges in the land in all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city.
6
He said to the judges, "Consider what have you done, for you do not judge for man but for the
LORD who accompanies you when you render judgment.
7
"Now then let the fear of the LORD be upon you; have care what you do, for the LORD our
God will have no part in unrighteousness or partiality or the taking of a bribe."
8
In Jerusalem also Jehoshaphat appointed some of the Levites and priests, and some of the heads
of the fathers' households of Israel, for the judgment of the LORD and to judge disputes among
the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
9
Then he charged them saying, "Thus you shall do in the fear of the LORD, faithfully and
wholeheartedly.
10
"Whenever any dispute comes to you from your brethren who live in their cities, between blood
and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and ordinances, you shall warn them so that
they may not have guilt before the LORD, and wrath may not come on you and your brethren.
Thus you shall do and you will not have guilt.
11
"Behold, Amariah the chief priest will preside over you in all that pertains to the LORD, and
Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, in all that pertains to the king. Also
the Levites shall serves as officers before you act resolutely, and the LORD support the upright."

2 Chronicles 20

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Judah Invaded
1
Now it came about after this that the sons of Moab and the sons of Ammon, together with some
of the Meunites, came to make war against Jehoshaphat.
2
Then some came and reported to Jehoshaphat, saying, "A great multitude comes against you
from beyond the sea, out of Aram and behold, they live in Hazazon-tamar (namely Engedi)."
3
Jehoshaphat feared and turned his attention to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout
all Judah.
4
So Judah gathered together to seek help from the LORD; they even came from all the cities of
Judah to seek the LORD.

Jehoshaphat's Prayer
5
Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD
before the new court,
6
and he said, "O LORD, the God of our fathers, do we not acknowledge You as the God in the
heavens? And do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might reside in
Your hand so that no one can stand against You.
7
"Did You not, O our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel and
give it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever?
8
"They have lived in it, and have built You a sanctuary there for Your name, saying,
9
'Should evil come upon us, the sword, or judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand
before this house and before You (for Your name we invoke in this house) and cry to You in our
distress, and You will hear and deliver us.'
10
"Now behold, the sons of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom You did not let Israel
invade when they came out of the land of Egypt (they turned aside from them and did not destroy
them),
11
see how they reward us by coming to drive us out from Your possession which You have given
us as an inheritance.
12
"O our God, will You not judge them? For we feel powerless before this great multitude who
come against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes fix on You."
13
All Judah stood before the LORD, with their infants, their wives and their children.

Jahaziel Answers the Prayer


14
Then in the midst of the assembly the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel the son of
Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, the Levite of the sons of
Asaph;
15
and he said, "Listen, all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: thus says
the LORD to you, 'Do not fear or feel dismay because of this great multitude, for the battle does
not belong to you but to God.
16
'Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz, and you will
find them at the end of the valley in front of the wilderness of Jeruel.
17
'You need not fight in this battle; station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the LORD
on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem. 'Do not fear or feel dismay; tomorrow go out to face
them, for the LORD remains with you."
18
Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of
Jerusalem fell down before the LORD, worshiping the LORD.
19
The Levites, from the sons of the Kohathites and of the sons of the Korahites, stood up to praise
the LORD God of Israel, with a very loud voice.

Enemies Destroy Themselves


20
They rose early in the morning and went out to the wilderness of Tekoa; and when they went
out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Listen to me, O Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, put your
trust in the LORD your God and you will become established. Put your trust in His prophets and
succeed."
21
When he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who sang to the LORD and those
who praised Him in holy attire, as they went out before the army and said, "Give thanks to the
LORD, for His lovingkindness lasts forever."
22
When they began singing and praising, the LORD set ambushes against the sons of Ammon,
Moab and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; so they became routed.
23
For the sons of Ammon and Moab rose up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir destroying
them completely; and when they had finished with the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy
one another.
24
When Judah came to the lookout of the wilderness, they looked toward the multitude, and
behold, they appeared as corpses lying on the ground, and no one had escaped.
25
When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take their spoil, they found much among them,
including goods, garments and valuable things which they took for themselves, more than they
could carry. And they took three days taking the spoil because there seemed so much.

Triumphant Return to Jerusalem


26
Then on the fourth day they assembled in the valley of Beracah, for there they blessed the
LORD. Therefore they have named that place "The Valley of Beracah" until today.
27
Every man of Judah and Jerusalem returned with Jehoshaphat at their head, returning to
Jerusalem with joy, for the LORD had made them to rejoice over their enemies.
28
They came to Jerusalem with harps, lyres and trumpets to the house of the LORD.
29
And the dread of God fell on all the kingdoms of the lands when they heard that the LORD had
fought against the enemies of Israel.
30
So the kingdom of Jehoshaphat remained at peace, for his God gave him rest on all sides.
31
Now Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. He reached thirty-five years old when he became king,
and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years. And his mother had the name of Azubah the
daughter of Shilhi.
32
He walked in the way of his father Asa and did not depart from it, doing right in the sight of the
LORD.
33
The high places, however, he did not remove; the people had not yet directed their hearts to the
God of their fathers.
34
Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first to last, behold, we read them in the annals of Jehu
the son of Hanani, which we see recorded in the Book of the Kings of Israel.

Alliance Displeases God


35
After this Jehoshaphat king of Judah allied himself with Ahaziah king of Israel. He acted
wickedly in so doing.
36
So he allied himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish, and they made the ships in
Ezion-geber.
37
Then Eliezer the son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat saying,
"Because you have allied yourself with Ahaziah, the LORD has destroyed your works." So the
ships became broken and could not go to Tarshish.

2 Chronicles 21

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Jehoram Succeeds Jehoshaphat in Judah


1
Then Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers and they buried him with his fathers in the city of
David, and Jehoram his son became king in his place.
2
He had brothers, the sons of Jehoshaphat: Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azaryahu, Michael and
Shephatiah. All these we identify as the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel.
3
Their father gave them many gifts of silver, gold and precious things, with fortified cities in
Judah, but he gave the kingdom to Jehoram because they acknowledged him as the firstborn.
4
Now when Jehoram had taken over the kingdom of his father and made himself secure, he killed
all his brothers with the sword, and some of the rulers of Israel also.
5
Jehoram reached thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned eight years in
Jerusalem.
6
He walked in the way of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab did (for Ahab's daughter
had become his wife), and he did evil in the sight of the LORD.
7
Yet the LORD would not destroy the house of David because of the covenant which He had
made with David, and since He had promised to give a lamp to him and his sons forever.

Revolt against Judah


8
In his days Edom revolted against the rule of Judah and set up a king over themselves.
9
Then Jehoram crossed over with his commanders and all his chariots with him. And he arose by
night and struck down the Edomites who surrounded him and the commanders of the chariots.
10
So Edom revolted against Judah to this day. Then Libnah revolted at the same time against his
rule, because he had forsaken the LORD God of his fathers.
11
Moreover, he made high places in the mountains of Judah, and caused the inhabitants of
Jerusalem to play the harlot and led Judah astray.
12
Then a letter came to him from Elijah the prophet saying, "Thus says the LORD God of your
father David, 'Because you have not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat your father and the ways
of Asa king of Judah,
13
but have walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and have caused Judah and the inhabitants of
Jerusalem to play the harlot as the house of Ahab played the harlot, and you have also killed your
brothers, your own family, who behaved better than you,
14
behold, the LORD will strike your people, your sons, your wives and all your possessions with
a great calamity;
15
and you will suffer severe sickness, a disease of your bowels, until your bowels come out
because of the sickness, day by day.'"
16
Then the LORD stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines and the Arabs who
bordered the Ethiopians;
17
and they came against Judah and invaded it, and carried away all the possessions found in the
king's house together with his sons and his wives, so that no son remained with him except
Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons.
18
So after all this the LORD smote him in his bowels with an incurable sickness.
19
Now it came about in the course of time, at the end of two years, that his bowels came out
because of his sickness and he died in great pain. And his people made no fire for him like the
fire for his fathers.
20
He reached thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years;
and he departed with no one's regret, and they buried him in the city of David, but not in the
tombs of the kings.
2 Chronicles 22

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Ahaziah Succeeds Jehoram in Judah


1
Then the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah, his youngest son, king in his place, for the
band of men who came with the Arabs to the camp had slain all the older sons. So Ahaziah the
son of Jehoram king of Judah began to reign.
2
Ahaziah reached twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned one year in
Jerusalem. And his mother had the name of Athaliah, the granddaughter of Omri.
3
He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother served as his counselor to do
wickedly.
4
He did evil in the sight of the LORD like the house of Ahab, for they served as his counselors
after the death of his father, to his destruction.

Ahaziah Allies with Jehoram of Israel


5
He also walked according to their counsel, and went with Jehoram the son of Ahab king of
Israel to wage war against Hazael king of Aram at Ramoth-gilead. But the Arameans wounded
Joram.
6
So he returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which they had inflicted on him at Ramah,
when he fought against Hazael king of Aram. And Ahaziah, the son of Jehoram king of Judah,
went down to see Jehoram the son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he had become sick.
7
Now the destruction of Ahaziah had come from God, in that he went to Joram For when he
came, he went out with Jehoram against Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom the LORD had anointed
to cut off the house of Ahab.

Jehu Murders Princes of Judah


8
It came about when Jehu executed judgment on the house of Ahab, he found the princes of
Judah and the sons of Ahaziah's brothers ministering to Ahaziah, and slew them.
9
He also sought Ahaziah, and they caught him while he hid in Samaria; they brought him to Jehu,
put him to death and buried him. For they said, "We identify him as the son of Jehoshaphat, who
sought the LORD with all his heart." So there remained no one of the house of Ahaziah to retain
the power of the kingdom.
10
Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son had died, she rose and destroyed all
the royal offspring of the house of Judah.
11
But Jehoshabeath the king's daughter took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among
the king's sons who had received the death penalty, and placed him and his nurse in the bedroom.
So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of King Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest (for they
identified her as the sister of Ahaziah), hid him from Athaliah so that she would not put him to
death.
12
He remained hidden with them in the house of God six years while Athaliah reigned over the
land.

2 Chronicles 23

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Jehoiada Sets Joash on the Throne of Judah


1
Now in the seventh year Jehoiada strengthened himself, and took captains of hundreds: Azariah
the son of Jeroham, Ishmael the son of Johanan, Azariah the son of Obed, Maaseiah the son of
Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri, and they entered into a covenant with him.
2
They went throughout Judah and gathered the Levites from all the cities of Judah, and the heads
of the fathers' households of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem.
3
Then all the assembly made a covenant with the king in the house of God. And Jehoiada said to
them, "Behold, the king's son shall reign, as the LORD has spoken concerning the sons of David.
4
"This thing you shall do: one third of you, of the priests and Levites who come in on the
sabbath, shall serve as gatekeepers,
5
and one third shall remain at the king's house, and a third at the Gate of the Foundation; and all
the people shall remain in the courts of the house of the LORD.
6
"But let no one enter the house of the LORD except the priests and the ministering Levites; they
may enter, for we designate them as holy. And let all the people keep the charge of the LORD.
7
"The Levites will surround the king, each man with his weapons in his hand; and whoever enters
the house, let them kill him. Thus shall it happen with the king when he comes in and when he
goes out."
8
So the Levites and all Judah did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded. And each
one of them took his men who would come in on the sabbath, with those who would go out on
the sabbath, for Jehoiada the priest did not dismiss any of the divisions.
9
Then Jehoiada the priest gave to the captains of hundreds the spears and the large and small
shields which had belonged to King David, which existed in the house of God.
10
He stationed all the people, each man with his weapon in his hand, from the right side of the
house to the left side of the house, by the altar and by the house, around the king.
11
Then they brought out the king's son and put the crown on him, and gave him the testimony and
made him king. And Jehoiada and his sons anointed him and said, "Long live the king!"

Athaliah Murdered
12
When Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she came into the
house of the LORD to the people.
13
She looked, and behold, the king stood by his pillar at the entrance, and the captains and the
trumpeters stood beside the king. And all the people of the land rejoiced and blew trumpets, the
singers with their musical instruments leading the praise. Then Athaliah tore her clothes and said,
"Treason! Treason!"
14
Jehoiada the priest brought out the captains of hundreds who received appointment over the
army and said to them, "Bring her out between the ranks; and whoever follows her, put to death
with the sword." For the priest said, "Let her not receive execution in the house of the LORD."
15
So they seized her, and when she arrived at the entrance of the Horse Gate of the king's house,
they put her to death there.

Reforms Carried Out


16
Then Jehoiada made a covenant between himself and all the people and the king, that they
would become the LORD'S people.
17
And all the people went to the house of Baal and tore it down, and they broke in pieces his
altars and his images, and killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars.
18
Moreover, Jehoiada placed the offices of the house of the LORD under the authority of the
Levitical priests, whom David had assigned over the house of the LORD, to offer the burnt
offerings of the LORD, as we have read in the law of Moses-- with rejoicing and singing
according to the order of David.
19
He stationed the gatekeepers of the house of the LORD, so that no one would enter who
remained in any way unclean.
20
He took the captains of hundreds, the nobles, the rulers of the people and all the people of the
land, and brought the king down from the house of the LORD, and came through the upper gate
to the king's house. And they placed the king upon the royal throne.
21
So all of the people of the land rejoiced and the city had become quiet. For they had put
Athaliah to death with the sword.
2 Chronicles 24

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Young Joash Influenced by Jehoiada


1
Joash reached seven years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem;
and his mother had the name of Zibiah from Beersheba.
2
Joash did right in the sight of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest.
3
Jehoiada took two wives for him, and he became the father of sons and daughters.

Faithless Priests
4
Now it came about after this that Joash decided to restore the house of the LORD.
5
He gathered the priests and Levites and said to them, "Go out to the cities of Judah and collect
money from all Israel to repair the house of your God annually, and you shall do the matter
quickly." But the Levites did not act quickly.
6
So the king summoned Jehoiada the chief priest and said to him, "Why have you not required
the Levites to bring in from Judah and from Jerusalem the levy fixed by Moses the servant of the
LORD on the congregation of Israel for the tent of the testimony?"
7
For the sons of the wicked Athaliah had broken into the house of God and even used the holy
things of the house of the LORD for the Baals.

Temple Repaired
8
So the king commanded, and they made a chest and set it outside by the gate of the house of the
LORD.
9
They made a proclamation in Judah and Jerusalem to bring to the LORD the levy fixed by
Moses the servant of God on Israel in the wilderness.
10
All the officers and all the people rejoiced and brought in their levies and dropped them into the
chest until they had finished.
11
It came about whenever they brought the chest in to the king's officer by the Levites, and when
they saw that it had much money, then the king's scribe and the chief priest's officer would come,
empty the chest, take it, and return it to its place. Thus they did daily and collected much money.
12
The king and Jehoiada gave it to those who did the work of the service of the house of the
LORD; and they hired masons and carpenters to restore the house of the LORD, and also
workers in iron and bronze to repair the house of the LORD.
13
So the workmen labored, and the repair work progressed in their hands, and they restored the
house of God according to its specifications and strengthened it.
14
When they had finished, they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada; and
they made it into utensils for the house of the LORD, utensils for the service and the burnt
offering, and pans and utensils of gold and silver. And they offered burnt offerings in the house
of the LORD continually all the days of Jehoiada.
15
Now when Jehoiada reached a ripe old age he died; he reached one hundred and thirty years old
at his death.
16
They buried him in the city of David among the kings, because he had done well in Israel and
to God and His house.
17
But after the death of Jehoiada the officials of Judah came and bowed down to the king, and the
king listened to them.
18
They abandoned the house of the LORD, the God of their fathers, and served the Asherim and
the idols; so wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this their guilt.
19
Yet He sent prophets to them to bring them back to the LORD; though they testified against
them, they would not listen.

Joash Murders Son of Jehoiada


20
Then the Spirit of God came on Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest; and he stood above
the people and said to them, "Thus God has said, 'Why do you transgress the commandments of
the LORD and do not prosper? Because you have forsaken the LORD, He has also forsaken
you.'"
21
So they conspired against him and at the command of the king they stoned him to death in the
court of the house of the LORD.
22
Thus Joash the king did not remember the kindness which his father Jehoiada had shown him,
but he murdered his son. And as he died he said, "May the LORD see and avenge!"

Aram Invades and Defeats Judah


23
Now it happened at the turn of the year that the army of the Arameans came up against him;
and they came to Judah and Jerusalem, destroyed all the officials of the people from among the
people, and sent all their spoil to the king of Damascus.
24
Indeed the army of the Arameans came with a small number of men; yet the LORD delivered a
very great army into their hands, because they had forsaken the LORD, the God of their fathers.
Thus they executed judgment on Joash.
25
When they had departed from him (for they left him very sick), his own servants conspired
against him because of the blood of the son of Jehoiada the priest, and murdered him on his bed.
So he died, and they buried him in the city of David, but they did not bury him in the tombs of
the kings.
26
Now these we identify as those who conspired against him: Zabad the son of Shimeath the
Ammonitess, and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith the Moabitess.
27
As to his sons and the many oracles against him and the rebuilding of the house of God, behold,
we read them in the treatise of the Book of the Kings. Then Amaziah his son became king in his
place.

2 Chronicles 25

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Amaziah Succeeds Joash in Judah


1
Amaziah reached twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years
in Jerusalem. And his mother had the name of Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.
2
He did right in the sight of the LORD, yet not with a whole heart.
3
Now it came about as soon as the kingdom became firmly in his grasp, that he killed his
servants who had slain his father the king.
4
However, he did not put their children to death, but did as we read in the law in the book of
Moses, which the LORD commanded, saying, "Fathers shall not receive the death penalty for
sons, nor sons receive the death penalty for fathers, but each shall receive the death penalty for
his own sin."

Amaziah Defeats Edomites


5
Moreover, Amaziah assembled Judah and appointed them according to their fathers' households
under commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds throughout Judah and Benjamin;
and he took a census of those from twenty years old and upward and found them to number
300,000 choice men, able to go to war and handle spear and shield.
6
He hired also 100,000 valiant warriors out of Israel for one hundred talents of silver.
7
But a man of God came to him saying, "O king, do not let the army of Israel go with you, for the
LORD does not accompany Israel nor with any of the sons of Ephraim.
8
"But if you do go, do it, remain strong for the battle; yet God will bring you down before the
enemy, for God has power to help and to bring down."
9
Amaziah said to the man of God, "But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have
given to the troops of Israel?" And the man of God answered, "The LORD has much more to
give you than this."
10
Then Amaziah dismissed them, the troops which came to him from Ephraim, to go home; so
their anger burned against Judah and they returned home in fierce anger.
11
Now Amaziah strengthened himself and led his people forth, and went to the Valley of Salt and
struck down 10,000 of the sons of Seir.
12
The sons of Judah also captured 10,000 alive and brought them to the top of the cliff and threw
them down from the top of the cliff, so that they all dashed to pieces.
13
But the troops whom Amaziah sent back from going with him to battle, raided the cities of
Judah, from Samaria to Beth-horon, and struck down 3,000 of them and plundered much spoil.

Amaziah Rebuked for Idolatry


14
Now after Amaziah came from slaughtering the Edomites, he brought the gods of the sons of
Seir, set them up as his gods, bowed down before them and burned incense to them.
15
Then the anger of the LORD burned against Amaziah, and He sent him a prophet who said to
him, "Why have you sought the gods of the people who have not delivered their own people
from your hand?"
16
As he talked with him, the king said to him, "Have we appointed you a royal counselor? Stop!
Why should you become struck down?" Then the prophet stopped and said, "I know that God has
planned to destroy you, because you have done this and have not listened to my counsel."

Amaziah Defeated by Joash of Israel


17
Then Amaziah king of Judah took counsel and sent to Joash the son of Jehoahaz the son of
Jehu, the king of Israel, saying, "Come, let us face each other."
18
Joash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, "The thorn bush which grew in
Lebanon sent to the cedar which grew in Lebanon, saying, 'Give your daughter to my son in
marriage.' But there passed by a wild beast that lived in Lebanon and trampled the thorn bush.
19
"You said, 'Behold, you have defeated Edom.' And your heart has become proud in boasting.
Now stay at home; for why should you provoke trouble so that you, even you, would fall and
Judah with you?"
20
But Amaziah would not listen, for it had come from God, that He might deliver them into the
hand of Joash because they had sought the gods of Edom.
21
So Joash king of Israel went up, and he and Amaziah king of Judah faced each other at Beth-
shemesh, which belonged to Judah.
22
Judah suffered defeat at the hand of Israel, and they fled each to his tent.
23
Then Joash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash the son of
Jehoahaz, at Beth-shemesh, and brought him to Jerusalem and tore down the wall of Jerusalem
from the Gate of Ephraim to the Corner Gate, 400 cubits.
24
He took all the gold and silver and all the utensils which they found in the house of God with
Obed-edom, and the treasures of the king's house, the hostages also, and returned to Samaria.
25
And Amaziah, the son of Joash king of Judah, lived fifteen years after the death of Joash, son of
Jehoahaz, king of Israel.
26
Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, from first to last, behold, do we not read them in the Book
of the Kings of Judah and Israel?
27
From the time that Amaziah turned away from following the LORD they conspired against him
in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish; but they sent after him to Lachish and killed him there.
28
Then they brought him on horses and buried him with his fathers in the city of Judah.

2 Chronicles 26

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Uzziah Succeeds Amaziah in Judah


1
And all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who had reached sixteen years old, and made him king
in the place of his father Amaziah.
2
He built Eloth and restored it to Judah after the king slept with his fathers.
3
Uzziah had reached sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-two years in
Jerusalem; and his mother had the name of Jechiliah of Jerusalem.
4
He did right in the sight of the LORD according to all that his father Amaziah had done.
5
He continued to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding through the vision
of God; and as long as he sought the LORD, God prospered him.
Uzziah Succeeds in War
6
Now he went out and warred against the Philistines, and broke down the wall of Gath and the
wall of Jabneh and the wall of Ashdod; and he built cities in the area of Ashdod and among the
Philistines.
7
God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians who lived in Gur-baal, and the
Meunites.
8
The Ammonites also gave tribute to Uzziah, and his fame extended to the border of Egypt, for
he became very strong.
9
Moreover, Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate and at the Valley Gate and at the
corner buttress and fortified them.
10
He built towers in the wilderness and hewed many cisterns, for he had much livestock, both in
the lowland and in the plain. He also had plowmen and vinedressers in the hill country and the
fertile fields, for he loved the soil.
11
Moreover, Uzziah had an army ready for battle, which entered combat by divisions according
to the number of their muster, prepared by Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the official, under the
direction of Hananiah, one of the king's officers.
12
The total number of the heads of the households, of valiant warriors, added up to 2,600.
13
Under their direction served an elite army of 307,500, who could wage war with great power, to
help the king against the enemy.
14
Moreover, Uzziah prepared for all the army shields, spears, helmets, body armor, bows and
sling stones.
15
In Jerusalem he made engines of war invented by skillful men to stand on the towers and on the
corners for the purpose of shooting arrows and great stones. Hence his fame spread afar, for he
received marvelous help until he became strong.

Pride Becomes Uzziah's Undoing


16
But when he became strong, his heart became so proud that he acted corruptly, and he proved
unfaithful to the LORD his God, for he entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the
altar of incense.
17
Then Azariah the priest entered after him and with him eighty priests of the LORD, valiant
men.
18
They opposed Uzziah the king and said to him, "You, Uzziah, shall not burn incense to the
LORD, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron who have received consecration to burn incense.
Get out of the sanctuary, for you have proved unfaithful and will have no honor from the LORD
God."
19
But Uzziah, with a censer in his hand for burning incense, became enraged; and while he
became enraged with the priests, the leprosy broke out on his forehead before the priests in the
house of the LORD, beside the altar of incense.
20
Azariah the chief priest and all the priests looked at him, and behold, he became leprous on his
forehead; and they hurried him out of there, and he himself also hastened to get out because the
LORD had smitten him.
21
King Uzziah remained a leper to the day of his death; and he lived in a separate house, being a
leper, for he became cut off from the house of the LORD. And Jotham his son presided over the
king's house judging the people of the land.
22
Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, first to last, the prophet Isaiah, the son of Amoz, has written.
23
So Uzziah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the field of the grave
which belonged to the kings, for they said, "He has become a leper." And Jotham his son became
king in his place.

2 Chronicles 27

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Jotham Succeeds Uzziah in Judah


1
Jotham reached twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in
Jerusalem. And his mother had the name of Jerushah the daughter of Zadok.
2
He did right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Uzziah had done; however
he did not enter the temple of the LORD. But the people continued acting corruptly.
3
He built the upper gate of the house of the LORD, and he built extensively the wall of Ophel.
4
Moreover, he built cities in the hill country of Judah, and he built fortresses and towers on the
wooded hills.
5
He fought also with the king of the Ammonites and prevailed over them so that the Ammonites
gave him during that year one hundred talents of silver, ten thousand kors of wheat and ten
thousand of barley. The Ammonites also paid him this amount in the second and in the third year.
6
So Jotham became mighty because he ordered his ways before the LORD his God.
7
Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, even all his wars and his acts, behold, we read them in the
Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah.
8
He had become twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in
Jerusalem.
9
And Jotham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David; and Ahaz his son
became king in his place.

2 Chronicles 28

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Ahaz Succeeds Jotham in Judah


1
Ahaz reached twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem;
and he did not do right in the sight of the LORD as David his father had done.
2
But he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel; he also made molten images for the Baals.
3
Moreover, he burned incense in the valley of Ben-hinnom and burned his sons in fire, according
to the abominations of the nations whom the LORD had driven out before the sons of Israel.
4
He sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, on the hills and under every green tree.

Judah Becomes Invaded


5
Wherefore, the LORD his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Aram; and they
defeated him and carried away from him a great number of captives and brought them to
Damascus. And he fell into the hand of the king of Israel, who inflicted him with heavy
casualties.
6
For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah 120,000 in one day, all valiant men, because they
had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers.
7
And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, slew Maaseiah the king's son and Azrikam the ruler of
the house and Elkanah the second to the king.
8
The sons of Israel carried away captive of their brethren 200,000 women, sons and daughters;
and they took also a great deal of spoil from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria.
9
But a prophet of the LORD lived there, who had the name of Oded; and he went out to meet the
army which came to Samaria and said to them, "Behold, because the LORD, the God of your
fathers, became angry with Judah, He has delivered them into your hand, and you have slain
them in a rage which has even reached heaven.
10
"Now you propose to subjugate for yourselves the people of Judah and Jerusalem for male and
female slaves. Surely, do you not have transgressions of your own against the LORD your God?
11
"Now therefore, listen to me and return the captives whom you captured from your brothers, for
the burning anger of the LORD has become directed against you."
12
Then some of the heads of the sons of Ephraim—Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son
of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai—arose against
those who had come from the battle,
13
and said to them, "You must not bring the captives in here, for you propose to bring upon us
guilt against the LORD adding to our sins and our guilt; for our guilt has become great so that
His burning anger He directs against Israel."
14
So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the officers and all the assembly.
15
Then the men who received designation by name arose, took the captives, and they clothed all
their naked ones from the spoil; and they gave them clothes and sandals, fed them and gave them
drink, anointed them with oil, led all their feeble ones on donkeys, and brought them to Jericho,
the city of palm trees, to their brothers; then they returned to Samaria.

Compromise with Assyria


16
At that time King Ahaz sent to the kings of Assyria for help.
17
For again the Edomites had come and attacked Judah and carried away captives.
18
The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the lowland and of the Negev of Judah, and had
taken Beth-shemesh, Aijalon, Gederoth, and Soco with its villages, Timnah with its villages, and
Gimzo with its villages, and they settled there.
19
For the LORD humbled Judah because of Ahaz king of Israel, for he had brought about a lack
of restraint in Judah and proved very unfaithful to the LORD.
20
So Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria came against him and afflicted him instead of strengthening
him.
21
Although Ahaz took a portion out of the house of the LORD and out of the palace of the king
and of the princes, and gave it to the king of Assyria, it did not help him.
22
Now in the time of his distress this same King Ahaz became yet more unfaithful to the LORD.
23
For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus which had defeated him, and said, "Because the gods
of the kings of Aram helped them, I will sacrifice to them that they may help me." But they
became the downfall of him and all Israel.
24
Moreover, when Ahaz gathered together the utensils of the house of God, he cut the utensils of
the house of God in pieces; and he closed the doors of the house of the LORD and made altars
for himself in every corner of Jerusalem.
25
In every city of Judah he made high places to burn incense to other gods, and provoked the
LORD, the God of his fathers, to anger.
26
Now the rest of his acts and all his ways, from first to last, behold, we read them in the Book of
the Kings of Judah and Israel.
27
So Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, in Jerusalem, for they did not
bring him into the tombs of the kings of Israel; and Hezekiah his son reigned in his place.

2 Chronicles 29

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Hezekiah Succeeds Ahaz in Judah


1
Hezekiah became king when he reached twenty-five years old; and he reigned twenty-nine years
in Jerusalem. And his mother had the name of Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah.
2
He did right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father David had done.
3
In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he opened the doors of the house of the LORD
and repaired them.
4
He brought in the priests and the Levites and gathered them into the square on the east.

Reforms Begun
5
Then he said to them, "Listen to me, O Levites. Consecrate yourselves now, and consecrate the
house of the LORD, the God of your fathers, and carry the uncleanness out from the holy place.
6
"For our fathers have proved unfaithful and have done evil in the sight of the LORD our God,
and have forsaken Him and turned their faces away from the dwelling place of the LORD, and
have turned their backs.
7
"They have also shut the doors of the porch and put out the lamps, and have not burned incense
or offered burnt offerings in the holy place to the God of Israel.
8
"Therefore the wrath of the LORD became directed against Judah and Jerusalem, and He has
made them an object of terror, of horror, and of hissing, as you see with your own eyes.
9
"For behold, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives
have gone into captivity for this.
10
"Now it remains in my heart to make a covenant with the LORD God of Israel, that His burning
anger may turn away from us.
11
"My sons, do not show negligence now, for the LORD has chosen you to stand before Him, to
minister to Him, and to serve as His ministers and burn incense."
12
Then the Levites arose: Mahath, the son of Amasai and Joel the son of Azariah, from the sons
of the Kohathites; and from the sons of Merari, Kish the son of Abdi and Azariah the son of
Jehallelel; and from the Gershonites, Joah the son of Zimmah and Eden the son of Joah;
13
and from the sons of Elizaphan, Shimri and Jeiel; and from the sons of Asaph, Zechariah and
Mattaniah;
14
and from the sons of Heman, Jehiel and Shimei; and from the sons of Jeduthun, Shemaiah and
Uzziel.
15
They assembled their brothers, consecrated themselves, and went in to cleanse the house of the
LORD, according to the commandment of the king by the words of the LORD.
16
So the priests went in to the inner part of the house of the LORD to cleanse it, and every
unclean thing which they found in the temple of the LORD they brought out to the court of the
house of the LORD. Then the Levites received it to carry out to the Kidron valley.
17
Now they began the consecration on the first day of the first month, and on the eighth day of
the month they entered the porch of the LORD. Then they consecrated the house of the LORD in
eight days, and finished on the sixteenth day of the first month.
18
Then they went in to King Hezekiah and said, "We have cleansed the whole house of the
LORD, the altar of burnt offering with all of its utensils, and the table of showbread with all of
its utensils.
19
"Moreover, all the utensils which King Ahaz had discarded during his reign in his
unfaithfulness, we have prepared and consecrated; and behold, they stand before the altar of the
LORD."

Hezekiah Restores Temple Worship


20
Then King Hezekiah arose early and assembled the princes of the city and went up to the house
of the LORD.
21
They brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs and seven male goats for a sin offering for
the kingdom, the sanctuary, and Judah. And he ordered the priests, the sons of Aaron, to offer
them on the altar of the LORD.
22
So they slaughtered the bulls, and the priests took the blood and sprinkled it on the altar. They
also slaughtered the rams and sprinkled the blood on the altar; they slaughtered the lambs also
and sprinkled the blood on the altar.
23
Then they brought the male goats of the sin offering before the king and the assembly, and they
laid their hands on them.
24
The priests slaughtered them and purged the altar with their blood to atone for all Israel, for the
king ordered the burnt offering and the sin offering for all Israel.
25
He then stationed the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, with harps and with
lyres, according to the command of David and of Gad the king's seer, and of Nathan the prophet;
for the command had come from the LORD through His prophets.
26
The Levites stood with the musical instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets.
27
Then Hezekiah gave the order to offer the burnt offering on the altar. When the burnt offering
began, the song to the LORD also began with the trumpets, accompanied by the instruments of
David, king of Israel.
28
While the whole assembly worshiped, the singers also sang and the trumpets sounded; all this
continued until the burnt offering had become finished.
29
Now at the completion of the burnt offerings, the king and all who accompanied him bowed
down and worshiped.
30
Moreover, King Hezekiah and the officials ordered the Levites to sing praises to the LORD
with the words of David and Asaph the seer. So they sang praises with joy, and bowed down and
worshiped.
31
Then Hezekiah said, "Now that you have consecrated yourselves to the LORD, come near and
bring sacrifices and thank offerings to the house of the LORD." And the assembly brought
sacrifices and thank offerings, and all those who felt willing brought burnt offerings.
32
The number of the burnt offerings which the assembly brought consisted of 70 bulls, 100 rams,
and 200 lambs; all these they used for a burnt offering to the LORD.
33
The consecrated things consisted of 600 bulls and 3,000 sheep.
34
But the priests had become too few, so that they could not skin all the burnt offerings; therefore
their brothers the Levites helped them until the work had become completed and until the other
priests had consecrated themselves For the Levites felt more conscientious to consecrate
themselves than the priests.
35
There seemed also many burnt offerings with the fat of the peace offerings and with the
libations for the burnt offerings. Thus the service of the house of the LORD became established
again.
36
Then Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced over what God had prepared for the people, because
the thing came about suddenly.

2 Chronicles 30

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All Israel Invited to the Passover


1
Now Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that
they should come to the house of the LORD at Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover to the LORD
God of Israel.
2
For the king and his princes and all the assembly in Jerusalem had decided to celebrate the
Passover in the second month,
3
since they could not celebrate it at that time, because the priests had not consecrated themselves
in sufficient numbers, nor had the people gathered in Jerusalem.
4
Thus the thing seemed right in the sight of the king and all the assembly.
5
So they established a decree to circulate a proclamation throughout all Israel from Beersheba
even to Dan, that they should come to celebrate the Passover to the LORD God of Israel at
Jerusalem. For they had not celebrated it in great numbers as it had become prescribed.
6
The couriers went throughout all Israel and Judah with the letters from the hand of the king and
his princes, even according to the command of the king, saying, "O sons of Israel, return to the
LORD God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, that He may return to those of you who escaped and
remain from the hand of the kings of Assyria.
7
"Do not imitate your fathers and your brothers, who proved unfaithful to the LORD God of their
fathers, so that He made them a horror, as you see.
8
"Now do not stiffen your neck like your fathers, but yield to the LORD and enter His sanctuary
which He has consecrated forever, and serve the LORD your God, that His burning anger may
turn away from you.
9
"For if you return to the LORD, your brothers and your sons will find compassion before those
who led them captive and will return to this land For the LORD your God shows graciousness
and compassion, and will not turn His face away from you if you return to Him."
10
So the couriers passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, and as
far as Zebulun, but they laughed them to scorn and mocked them.
11
Nevertheless some men of Asher, Manasseh and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to
Jerusalem.
12
The hand of God fell also on Judah to give them one heart to do what the king and the princes
commanded by the word of the LORD.

Passover Reinstituted
13
Now many people gathered at Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread in the
second month, a very large assembly.
14
They arose and removed the altars which stood in Jerusalem; they also removed all the incense
altars and cast them into the brook Kidron.
15
Then they slaughtered the Passover lambs on the fourteenth of the second month And the
priests and Levites became ashamed of themselves, and consecrated themselves and brought
burnt offerings to the house of the LORD.
16
They stood at their stations after their custom, according to the law of Moses the man of God;
the priests sprinkled the blood which they received from the hand of the Levites.
17
For many in the assembly had not consecrated themselves; therefore, the Levites presided over
the slaughter of the Passover lambs for everyone who had become unclean, in order to consecrate
them to the LORD.
18
For a multitude of the people, even many from Ephraim and Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun,
had not purified themselves, yet they ate the Passover otherwise than prescribed. For Hezekiah
prayed for them, saying, "May the good LORD pardon
19
everyone who prepares his heart to seek God, the LORD God of his fathers, though not
according to the purification rules of the sanctuary."
20
So the LORD heard Hezekiah and healed the people.
21
The sons of Israel present in Jerusalem celebrated the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven
days with great joy, and the Levites and the priests praised the LORD day after day with loud
instruments to the LORD.
22
Then Hezekiah spoke encouragingly to all the Levites who showed good insight in the things of
the LORD So they ate for the appointed seven days, sacrificing peace offerings and giving
thanks to the LORD God of their fathers.
23
Then the whole assembly decided to celebrate the feast another seven days, so they celebrated
the seven days with joy.
24
For Hezekiah king of Judah had contributed to the assembly 1,000 bulls and 7,000 sheep, and
the princes had contributed to the assembly 1,000 bulls and 10,000 sheep; and a large number of
priests consecrated themselves.
25
All the assembly of Judah rejoiced, with the priests and the Levites and all the assembly that
came from Israel, both the sojourners who came from the land of Israel and those living in Judah.
26
So there arose great joy in Jerusalem, because nothing happened like this in Jerusalem since the
days of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel.
27
Then the Levitical priests arose and blessed the people; and their voice God heard and their
prayer came to His holy dwelling place, to heaven.

2 Chronicles 31

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Hezekiah Destroys Idols


1
Now when all this had finished, all Israel who had present itself went out to the cities of Judah,
broke the pillars in pieces, cut down the Asherim and pulled down the high places and the altars
throughout all Judah and Benjamin, as well as in Ephraim and Manasseh, until they had
destroyed them all. Then all the sons of Israel returned to their cities, each to his possession.
2
And Hezekiah appointed the divisions of the priests and the Levites by their divisions, each
according to his service, both the priests and the Levites, for burnt offerings and for peace
offerings, to minister and to give thanks and to praise in the gates of the camp of the LORD.

Reforms Continued
3
He also appointed the king's portion of his goods for the burnt offerings, namely, for the
morning and evening burnt offerings, and the burnt offerings for the sabbaths and for the new
moons and for the fixed festivals, as we read in the law of the LORD.
4
Also he commanded the people who lived in Jerusalem to give the portion due to the priests and
the Levites, that they might devote themselves to the law of the LORD.
5
As soon as the order spread, the sons of Israel provided in abundance the first fruits of grain,
new wine, oil, honey and of all the produce of the field; and they brought in abundantly the tithe
of all.
6
The sons of Israel and Judah who lived in the cities of Judah also brought in the tithe of oxen
and sheep, and the tithe of sacred gifts which they had consecrated to the LORD their God, and
placed them in heaps.
7
In the third month they began to make the heaps, and finished them by the seventh month.
8
When Hezekiah and the rulers came and saw the heaps, they blessed the LORD and His people
Israel.
9
Then Hezekiah questioned the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps.
10
Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok said to him, "Since people began to bring
contributions into the house of the LORD, we have had enough to eat with plenty left over, for
the LORD has blessed His people, and this great quantity remains."
11
Then Hezekiah commanded them to prepare rooms in the house of the LORD, and they
prepared them.
12
They faithfully brought in the contributions and the tithes and the consecrated things; and
Conaniah the Levite served as the officer in charge of them and his brother Shimei served as
second.
13
Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismachiah, Mahath and Benaiah
served as overseers under the authority of Conaniah and Shimei his brother by the appointment
of King Hezekiah, and Azariah served as the chief officer of the house of God.
14
Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the keeper of the eastern gate, presided over the freewill
offerings of God, to apportion the contributions for the LORD and the most holy things.
15
Under his authority served Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah and Shecaniah in the
cities of the priests, to distribute faithfully their portions to their brothers by divisions, whether
great or small,
16
without regard to their genealogical enrollment, to the males from thirty years old and upward
—everyone who entered the house of the LORD for his daily obligations—for their work in their
duties according to their divisions;
17
as well as the priests who became enrolled genealogically according to their fathers'
households, and the Levites from twenty years old and upwards, by their duties and their
divisions.
18
The genealogical enrollment included all their little children, their wives, their sons and their
daughters, for the whole assembly, for they consecrated themselves faithfully in holiness.
19
Also for the sons of Aaron the priests who lived in the pasture lands of their cities, or in each
and every city, there lived men who received designation by name to distribute portions to every
male among the priests and to everyone genealogically enrolled among the Levites.
20
Thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah; and he did good, right and true before the LORD his
God.
21
Every work which he began in the service of the house of God in law and in commandment,
seeking his God, he did with all his heart and prospered.

2 Chronicles 32

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Sennacherib Invades Judah


1
After these acts of faithfulness Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah and
besieged the fortified cities, and thought to break into them for himself.
2
Now when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and that he intended to make war on
Jerusalem,
3
he decided with his officers and his warriors to cut off the supply of water from the springs
which lay outside the city, and they helped him.
4
So many people assembled and stopped up all the springs and the stream which flowed through
the region, saying, "Why should the kings of Assyria come and find abundant water?"
5
And he took courage and rebuilt all the wall that the enemies had broken down and erected
towers on it, and built another outside wall and strengthened the Millo in the city of David, and
made weapons and shields in great number.
6
He appointed military officers over the people and gathered them to him in the square at the city
gate, and spoke encouragingly to them, saying,
7
"Remain strong and courageous, do not fear or have dismay because of the king of Assyria nor
because of all the horde that accompanies him; for the one with us has greater power than the one
with him.
8
"With him he has only an arm of flesh, but with us we have the LORD our God to help us and to
fight our battles." And the people relied on the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.
Sennacherib Undermines Hezekiah
9
After this Sennacherib king of Assyria sent his servants to Jerusalem while he besieged Lachish
with all his forces with him, against Hezekiah king of Judah and against all Judah who lived at
Jerusalem, saying,
10
"Thus says Sennacherib king of Assyria, 'On what do you trust that you remain in Jerusalem
under siege?
11
'Does not Hezekiah mislead you to give yourselves over to die by hunger and by thirst, saying,
"The LORD our God will deliver us from the hand of the king of Assyria"?
12
' Has not the same Hezekiah taken away His high places and His altars, and said to Judah and
Jerusalem, "You shall worship before one altar, and on it you shall burn incense"?
13
'Do you not know what I and my fathers have done to all the peoples of the lands? Could the
gods of the nations of the lands able at all to deliver their land from my hand?
14
'Who do we know among all the gods of those nations which my fathers utterly destroyed who
could deliver his people out of my hand, that your God should have the capability to deliver you
from my hand?
15
'Now therefore, do not let Hezekiah deceive you or mislead you like this, and do not believe
him, for no god of any nation or kingdom could deliver his people from my hand or from the
hand of my fathers. How much less will your God deliver you from my hand?'"
16
His servants spoke further against the LORD God and against His servant Hezekiah.
17
He also wrote letters to insult the LORD God of Israel, and to speak against Him, saying, "As
the gods of the nations of the lands have not delivered their people from my hand, so the God of
Hezekiah will not deliver His people from my hand."
18
They called this out with a loud voice in the language of Judah to the people of Jerusalem who
stood on the wall, to frighten and terrify them, so that they might take the city.
19
They spoke of the God of Jerusalem as of the gods of the peoples of the earth, the work of
men's hands.

God Answers Hezekiah's Prayer


20
But King Hezekiah and Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, prayed about this and cried out to
heaven.
21
And the LORD sent an angel who destroyed every mighty warrior, commander and officer in
the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned in shame to his own land. And when he had
entered the temple of his god, some of his own children killed him there with the sword.
22
So the LORD saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib
the king of Assyria and from the hand of all others, and guided them on every side.
23
And many brought gifts to the LORD at Jerusalem and choice presents to Hezekiah king of
Judah, so that he received exaltation in the sight of all nations thereafter.
24
In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill; and he prayed to the LORD, and the LORD spoke
to him and gave him a sign.
25
But Hezekiah gave no return for the benefit he received, because his heart stayed proud;
therefore wrath came on him and on Judah and Jerusalem.
26
However, Hezekiah humbled the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so
that the wrath of the LORD did not come on them in the days of Hezekiah.
27
Now Hezekiah had immense riches and honor; and he made for himself treasuries for silver,
gold, precious stones, spices, shields and all kinds of valuable articles,
28
storehouses also for the produce of grain, wine and oil, pens for all kinds of cattle and
sheepfolds for the flocks.
29
He made cities for himself and acquired flocks and herds in abundance, for God had given him
very great wealth.
30
Hezekiah stopped the upper outlet of the waters of Gihon and directed them to the west side of
the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all that he did.
31
Even in the matter of the envoys of the rulers of Babylon, who sent to him to inquire of the
wonder that had happened in the land, God left him alone only to test him, that He might know
his heart.
32
Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah and his deeds of devotion, behold, we read them in the
vision of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.
33
So Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the upper section of the tombs of the
sons of David; and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem honored him at his death. And his
son Manasseh became king in his place.
2 Chronicles 33

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Manasseh Succeeds Hezekiah in Judah


1
Manasseh reached twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-five years in
Jerusalem.
2
He did evil in the sight of the LORD according to the abominations of the nations whom the
LORD dispossessed before the sons of Israel.
3
For he rebuilt the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down; he also erected altars
for the Baals and made Asherim, and worshiped all the host of heaven and served them.
4
He built altars in the house of the LORD of which the LORD had said, "My name shall remain
in Jerusalem forever."
5
For he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD.
6
He made his sons pass through the fire in the valley of Ben-hinnom; and he practiced witchcraft,
used divination, practiced sorcery and dealt with mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the
sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger.
7
Then he put the carved image of the idol which he had made in the house of God, of which God
had said to David and to Solomon his son, "In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen
from all the tribes of Israel, I will put My name forever;
8
and I will not again remove the foot of Israel from the land which I have appointed for your
fathers, if only they will observe to do all that I have commanded them according to all the law,
the statutes and the ordinances given through Moses."
9
Thus Manasseh misled Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to do more evil than the nations
whom the LORD destroyed before the sons of Israel.

Manasseh's Idolatry Rebuked


10
The LORD spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention.
11
Therefore the LORD brought the commanders of the army of the king of Assyria against them,
and they captured Manasseh with hooks, bound him with bronze chains and took him to
Babylon.
12
When he fell into distress, he entreated the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before
the God of his fathers.
13
When he prayed to Him, He became moved by his entreaty and heard his supplication, and
brought him again to Jerusalem to his kingdom Then Manasseh acknowledged the LORD as
God.
14
Now after this he built the outer wall of the city of David on the west side of Gihon, in the
valley, even to the entrance of the Fish Gate; and he encircled the Ophel with it and made it very
high. Then he put army commanders in all the fortified cities of Judah.
15
He also removed the foreign gods and the idol from the house of the LORD, as well as all the
altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the LORD and in Jerusalem, and he
threw them outside the city.
16
He set up the altar of the LORD and sacrificed peace offerings and thank offerings on it; and he
ordered Judah to serve the LORD God of Israel.
17
Nevertheless the people still sacrificed in the high places, although only to the LORD their
God.
18
Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh even his prayer to his God, and the words of the seers
who spoke to him in the name of the LORD God of Israel, behold, they appear among the
records of the kings of Israel.
19
His prayer also and how he had entreated God , and all his sin, his unfaithfulness, and the sites
on which he built high places and erected the Asherim and the carved images, before he humbled
himself, behold, we read them in the records of the Hozai.
20
So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his own house. And Amon his son
became king in his place.

Amon Becomes King in Judah


21
Amon reached twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned two years in
Jerusalem.
22
He did evil in the sight of the LORD as Manasseh his father had done, and Amon sacrificed to
all the carved images which his father Manasseh had made, and he served them.
23
Moreover, he did not humble himself before the LORD as his father Manasseh had done, but
Amon multiplied guilt.
24
Finally his servants conspired against him and put him to death in his own house.
25
But the people of the land killed all the conspirators against King Amon, and the people of the
land made Josiah his son king in his place.
2 Chronicles 34

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Josiah Succeeds Amon in Judah


1
Josiah reached eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in
Jerusalem.
2
He did right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the ways of his father David and did not
turn aside to the right or to the left.
3
For in the eighth year of his reign while still a youth, he began to seek the God of his father
David; and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the
Asherim, the carved images and the molten images.
4
They tore down the altars of the Baals in his presence, and the incense altars that stood high
above them he chopped down; also the Asherim, the carved images and the molten images he
broke in pieces and ground to powder and scattered it on the graves of those who had sacrificed
to them.
5
Then he burned the bones of the priests on their altars and purged Judah and Jerusalem.
6
In the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim, Simeon, even as far as Naphtali, in their surrounding ruins,
7
he also tore down the altars and beat the Asherim and the carved images into powder, and
chopped down all the incense altars throughout the land of Israel. Then he returned to Jerusalem.

Josiah Repairs the Temple


8
Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land and the house, he sent
Shaphan the son of Azaliah, and Maaseiah an official of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz the
recorder, to repair the house of the LORD his God.
9
They came to Hilkiah the high priest and delivered the money that they brought into the house
of God, which the Levites, the doorkeepers, had collected from Manasseh and Ephraim, and
from all the remnant of Israel, and from all Judah and Benjamin and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
10
Then they gave it into the hands of the workmen who had the oversight of the house of the
LORD, and the workmen who worked in the house of the LORD used it to restore and repair the
house.
11
They in turn gave it to the carpenters and to the builders to buy quarried stone and timber for
couplings and to make beams for the houses which the kings of Judah had let go to ruin.
12
The men did the work faithfully with foremen over them to supervise: Jahath and Obadiah, the
Levites of the sons of Merari, Zechariah and Meshullam of the sons of the Kohathites, and the
Levites, all who had skill with musical instruments.
13
They presided over the burden bearers, and supervised all the workmen from job to job; and
some of the Levites served as scribes and officials and gatekeepers.

Hilkiah Discovers Lost Book of the Law


14
When they brought out the money which they had brought into the house of the LORD,
Hilkiah the priest found the book of the law of the LORD given by Moses.
15
Hilkiah responded and said to Shaphan the scribe, "I have found the book of the law in the
house of the LORD." And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan.
16
Then Shaphan brought the book to the king and reported further word to the king, saying,
"Everything that God entrusted to your servants they have done.
17
"They have also emptied out the money which they found in the house of the LORD, and have
delivered it into the hands of the supervisors and the workmen."
18
Moreover, Shaphan the scribe told the king saying, "Hilkiah the priest gave me a book." And
Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king.
19
When the king heard the words of the law, he tore his clothes.
20
Then the king commanded Hilkiah, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Abdon the son of Micah,
Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king's servant, saying,
21
"Go, inquire of the LORD for me and for those who remain in Israel and in Judah, concerning
the words of the book which they found; for great grows the wrath of the LORD which He
poured out on us because our fathers have not observed the word of the LORD, to do according
to all that we read in this book."

Huldah, the Prophetess, Speaks


22
So Hilkiah and those whom the king had told went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of
Shallum the son of Tokhath, the son of Hasrah, the keeper of the wardrobe (now she lived in
Jerusalem in the Second Quarter); and they spoke to her regarding this.
23
She said to them, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'Tell the man who sent you to Me,
24
thus says the LORD, "Behold, I bring evil on this place and on its inhabitants, even all the
curses written in the book which they have read in the presence of the king of Judah.
25
"Because they have forsaken Me and have burned incense to other gods, that they might
provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore My wrath will pour out on this
place and it shall not quench."'
26
"But to the king of Judah who sent you to inquire of the LORD, thus you will say to him, 'Thus
says the LORD God of Israel regarding the words which you have heard,
27
"Because your heart remained tender and you humbled yourself before God when you heard
His words against this place and against its inhabitants, and because you humbled yourself
before Me, tore your clothes and wept before Me, I truly have heard you," declares the LORD.
28
"Behold, I will gather you to your fathers and you shall gather to your grave in peace, so your
eyes will not see all the evil which I will bring on this place and on its inhabitants."'" And they
brought back word to the king.
29
Then the king sent and gathered all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.
30
The king went up to the house of the LORD and all the men of Judah, the inhabitants of
Jerusalem, the priests, the Levites and all the people, from the greatest to the least; and he read in
their hearing all the words of the book of the covenant which they found in the house of the
LORD.

Josiah's Good Reign


31
Then the king stood in his place and made a covenant before the LORD to walk after the
LORD, and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes with all his heart
and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant written in this book.
32
Moreover, he made all who lived in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand with him. So the
inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers.
33
Josiah removed all the abominations from all the lands belonging to the sons of Israel, and
made all who lived in Israel to serve the LORD their God. Throughout his lifetime they did not
turn from following the LORD God of their fathers.
2 Chronicles 35

NASB E-Prime DFM

The Passover Observed Again


1
Then Josiah celebrated the Passover to the LORD in Jerusalem, and they slaughtered the
Passover animals on the fourteenth day of the first month.
2
He set the priests in their offices and encouraged them in the service of the house of the LORD.
3
He also said to the Levites who taught all Israel and who had become designated as holy to the
LORD, "Put the holy ark in the house which Solomon the son of David king of Israel built; it
will become a burden on your shoulders no longer. Now serve the LORD your God and His
people Israel.
4
"Prepare yourselves by your fathers' households in your divisions, according to the writing of
David king of Israel and according to the writing of his son Solomon.
5
"Moreover, stand in the holy place according to the sections of the fathers' households of your
brethren the lay people, and according to the Levites, by division of a father's household.
6
"Now slaughter the Passover animals, sanctify yourselves and prepare for your brethren to do
according to the word of the LORD by Moses."
7
Josiah contributed to the lay people, to all who had presented themselves, flocks of lambs and
young goats, all for the Passover offerings, numbering 30,000 plus 3,000 bulls; these came from
the king's possessions.
8
His officers also contributed a freewill offering to the people, the priests and the Levites. Hilkiah
and Zechariah and Jehiel, the officials of the house of God, gave to the priests for the Passover
offerings 2,600 from the flocks and 300 bulls.
9
Conaniah also, and Shemaiah and Nethanel, his brothers, and Hashabiah and Jeiel and Jozabad,
the officers of the Levites, contributed to the Levites for the Passover offerings 5,000 from the
flocks and 500 bulls.
10
So the service became prepared, and the priests stood at their stations and the Levites by their
divisions according to the king's command.
11
They slaughtered the Passover animals, and while the priests sprinkled the blood received from
their hand, the Levites skinned them.
12
Then they removed the burnt offerings that they might give them to the sections of the fathers'
households of the lay people to present to the LORD, as we read it in the book of Moses. They
did this also with the bulls.
13
So they roasted the Passover animals on the fire according to the ordinance, and they boiled the
holy things in pots, in kettles, in pans, and carried them speedily to all the lay people.
14
Afterwards they prepared for themselves and for the priests, because the priests, the sons of
Aaron, offered the burnt offerings and the fat until night; therefore the Levites prepared for
themselves and for the priests, the sons of Aaron.
15
The singers, the sons of Asaph, remained also at their stations according to the command of
David, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun the king's seer; and the gatekeepers at each gate did not
have to depart from their service, because the Levites their brethren prepared for them.
16
So all the service of the LORD they prepared on that day to celebrate the Passover, and to offer
burnt offerings on the altar of the LORD according to the command of King Josiah.
17
Thus the sons of Israel who had presented themselves celebrated the Passover at that time, and
the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days.
18
They had not celebrated a Passover like it in Israel since the days of Samuel the prophet; nor
had any of the kings of Israel celebrated such a Passover as Josiah did with the priests, the
Levites, all Judah and Israel who presented themselves, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
19
In the eighteenth year of Josiah's reign they celebrated this Passover.

Josiah Dies in Battle


20
After all this, when Josiah had set the temple in order, Neco king of Egypt came up to make
war at Carchemish on the Euphrates, and Josiah went out to engage him.
21
But Neco sent messengers to him, saying, "What have we to do with each other, O King of
Judah? I do not come against you today but against the house with which I war, and God has
ordered me to hurry. Stop for your own sake from interfering with God who accompanies me, so
that He will not destroy you."
22
However, Josiah would not turn away from him, but disguised himself in order to make war
with him; nor did he listen to the words of Neco from the mouth of God, but came to make war
on the plain of Megiddo.
23
The archers shot King Josiah, and the king said to his servants, "Take me away, for I have
become badly wounded."
24
So his servants took him out of the chariot and carried him in the second chariot which he had,
and brought him to Jerusalem where he died and they buried him in the tombs of his fathers. All
Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah.
25
Then Jeremiah chanted a lament for Josiah. And all the male and female singers speak about
Josiah in their lamentations to this day. And they made them an ordinance in Israel; behold, we
also read them in the Lamentations.
26
Now the rest of the acts of Josiah and his deeds of devotion as we read in the law of the LORD,
27
and his acts, first to last, behold, we read them in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah.

2 Chronicles 36

NASB E-Prime DFM

Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, then Jehoiachin Rule


1
Then the people of the land took Joahaz the son of Josiah, and made him king in place of his
father in Jerusalem.
2
Joahaz reached twenty-three years old when he became king, and he reigned three months in
Jerusalem.
3
Then the king of Egypt deposed him at Jerusalem, and imposed on the land a fine of one
hundred talents of silver and one talent of gold.
4
The king of Egypt made Eliakim his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem, and changed his
name to Jehoiakim. But Neco took Joahaz his brother and brought him to Egypt.
5
Jehoiakim reached twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned eleven years in
Jerusalem; and he did evil in the sight of the LORD his God.
6
Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against him and bound him with bronze chains to
take him to Babylon.
7
Nebuchadnezzar also brought some of the articles of the house of the LORD to Babylon and put
them in his temple at Babylon.
8
Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim and the abominations which he did, and what they found
against him, behold, have we not read them in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. And
Jehoiachin his son became king in his place.
9
Jehoiachin reached eight years old when he became king, and he reigned three months and ten
days in Jerusalem, and he did evil in the sight of the LORD.
Captivity in Babylon Begun
10
At the turn of the year King Nebuchadnezzar sent and brought him to Babylon with the
valuable articles of the house of the LORD, and he made his kinsman Zedekiah king over Judah
and Jerusalem.

Zedekiah Rules in Judah


11
Zedekiah reached twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned eleven years in
Jerusalem.
12
He did evil in the sight of the LORD his God; he did not humble himself before Jeremiah the
prophet who spoke for the LORD.
13
He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar who had made him swear allegiance by God
But he stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to the LORD God of Israel.
14
Furthermore, all the officials of the priests and the people proved very unfaithful following all
the abominations of the nations; and they defiled the house of the LORD which He had
sanctified in Jerusalem.
15
The LORD, the God of their fathers, sent word to them again and again by His messengers,
because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place;
16
but they continually mocked the messengers of God, despised His words and scoffed at His
prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against His people, until no remedy could come.
17
Therefore He brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans who slew their young men
with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion on young man or virgin,
old man or infirm; He gave them all into his hand.
18
All the articles of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of the
LORD, and the treasures of the king and of his officers, he brought them all to Babylon.
19
Then they burned the house of God and broke down the wall of Jerusalem, and burned all its
fortified buildings with fire and destroyed all its valuable articles.
20
Those who had escaped from the sword he carried away to Babylon; and they became servants
to him and to his sons until the rule of the kingdom of Persia,
21
to fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed its
Sabbaths All the days of its desolation it kept Sabbath until seventy years had reached
completion.
Cyrus Permits Return
22
Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia—in order to fulfill the word of the LORD by the
mouth of Jeremiah—the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he sent a
proclamation throughout his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying,
23
"Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, 'The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the
kingdoms of the earth, and He has appointed me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which stands
in Judah. Whoever there lives among you of all His people, may the LORD his God remain with
him, and let him go up!'"
Ezra 1-10

Ezra 1

Rendered into E-Prime by Dr. David F. Maas

Cyrus's Proclamation
1
Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD by the
mouth of Jeremiah, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he sent a
proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying:
2
"Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, 'The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the
kingdoms of the earth and He has appointed me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which locates
in Judah.
3
'Whoever lives among you of all His people, may his God dwell with him! Let him go up to
Jerusalem which locates in Judah and rebuild the house of the LORD, the God of Israel; we
acknowledge God as dwelling in Jerusalem.
4
'Every survivor, at whatever place he may live, let the men of that place support him with silver
and gold, with goods and cattle, together with a freewill offering for the house of God which
locates in Jerusalem.'"

Holy Vessels Restored


5
Then the heads of fathers' households of Judah and Benjamin and the priests and the Levites
arose, even everyone whose spirit God had stirred to go up and rebuild the house of the LORD
which locates in Jerusalem.
6
All those about them encouraged them with articles of silver, with gold, with goods, with cattle
and with valuables, aside from all that people gave as a freewill offering.
7
Also King Cyrus brought out the articles of the house of the LORD, which Nebuchadnezzar
had carried away from Jerusalem and put in the house of his gods;
8
and Cyrus, king of Persia, had them brought out by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and he
counted them out to Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah.
9
Now this constituted their number: 30 gold dishes, 1,000 silver dishes, 29 duplicates;
10
30 gold bowls, 410 silver bowls of a second kind and 1,000 other articles.
11
All the articles of gold and silver numbered 5,400. Sheshbazzar brought them all up with the
exiles who went up from Babylon to Jerusalem.
Ezra 2

NASB E-Prime DFM

Number of Those Returning


1
Now these constitute the people of the province who came up out of the captivity of the exiles
whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away to Babylon, and returned to
Jerusalem and Judah, each to his city.
2
These came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar,
Bigvai, Rehum and Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel:
3
the sons of Parosh, 2,172;
4
the sons of Shephatiah, 372;
5
the sons of Arah, 775;
6
the sons of Pahath-moab of the sons of Jeshua and Joab, 2,812;
7
the sons of Elam, 1,254;
8
the sons of Zattu, 945;
9
the sons of Zaccai, 760;
10
the sons of Bani, 642;
11
the sons of Bebai, 623;
12
the sons of Azgad, 1,222;
13
the sons of Adonikam, 666;
14
the sons of Bigvai, 2,056;
15
the sons of Adin, 454;
16
the sons of Ater of Hezekiah, 98;
17
the sons of Bezai, 323;
18
the sons of Jorah, 112;
19
the sons of Hashum, 223;
20
the sons of Gibbar, 95;
21
the men of Bethlehem, 123;
22
the men of Netophah, 56;
23
the men of Anathoth, 128;
24
the sons of Azmaveth, 42;
25
the sons of Kiriath-arim, Chephirah and Beeroth, 743;
26
the sons of Ramah and Geba, 621;
27
the men of Michmas, 122;
28
the men of Bethel and Ai, 223;
29
the sons of Nebo, 52;
30
the sons of Magbish, 156;
31
the sons of the other Elam, 1,254;
32
the sons of Harim, 320;
33
the sons of Lod, Hadid and Ono, 725;
34
the men of Jericho, 345;
35
the sons of Senaah, 3,630.

Priests Returning
36
The priests: the sons of Jedaiah of the house of Jeshua, 973;
37
the sons of Immer, 1,052;
38
the sons of Pashhur, 1,247;
39
the sons of Harim, 1,017.

Levites Returning
40
The Levites: the sons of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the sons of Hodaviah, 74.
41
The singers: the sons of Asaph, 128.
42
The sons of the gatekeepers: the sons of Shallum, the sons of Ater, the sons of Talmon, the sons
of Akkub, the sons of Hatita, the sons of Shobai, in all 139.
43
The temple servants: the sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha, the sons of Tabbaoth,
44
the sons of Keros, the sons of Siaha, the sons of Padon,
45
the sons of Lebanah, the sons of Hagabah, the sons of Akkub,
46
the sons of Hagab, the sons of Shalmai, the sons of Hanan,
47
the sons of Giddel, the sons of Gahar, the sons of Reaiah,
48
the sons of Rezin, the sons of Nekoda, the sons of Gazzam,
49
the sons of Uzza, the sons of Paseah, the sons of Besai,
50
the sons of Asnah, the sons of Meunim, the sons of Nephisim,
51
the sons of Bakbuk, the sons of Hakupha, the sons of Harhur,
52
the sons of Bazluth, the sons of Mehida, the sons of Harsha,
53
the sons of Barkos, the sons of Sisera, the sons of Temah,
54
the sons of Neziah, the sons of Hatipha.
55
The sons of Solomon's servants: the sons of Sotai, the sons of Hassophereth, the sons of
Peruda,
56
the sons of Jaalah, the sons of Darkon, the sons of Giddel,
57
the sons of Shephatiah, the sons of Hattil, the sons of Pochereth-hazzebaim, the sons of Ami.
58
All the temple servants and the sons of Solomon's servants were 392.
59
Now these are those who came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addan and Immer, but
they could not give evidence of their fathers' households and their descendants, whether they
belonged to Israel:
60
the sons of Delaiah, the sons of Tobiah, the sons of Nekoda, 652.

Priests Removed
61
Of the sons of the priests: the sons of Habaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, the sons of Barzillai, who
took a wife from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and he became called by their name.
62
These searched among their ancestral registration, but no one could locate them; therefore
people considered them considered unclean and excluded from the priesthood.
63
The governor said to them that they should not eat from the most holy things until a priest
stood up with Urim and Thummim.
64
The whole assembly numbered 42,360,
65
besides their male and female servants who numbered 7,337; and they had 200 singing men
and women.
66
Their horses added up to 736; their mules, 245;
67
their camels, 435; their donkeys, 6,720.
68
Some of the heads of fathers' households, when they arrived at the house of the LORD which
located in Jerusalem, offered willingly for the house of God to restore it on its foundation.
69
According to their ability they gave to the treasury for the work 61,000 gold drachmas and
5,000 silver minas and 100 priestly garments.
70
Now the priests and the Levites, some of the people, the singers, the gatekeepers and the
temple servants lived in their cities, and all Israel in their cities.

Ezra 3

NASB E-Prime DFM

Altar and Sacrifices Restored


1
Now when the seventh month came, and the sons of Israel lived in the cities, the people
gathered together as one man to Jerusalem.
2
Then Jeshua the son of Jozadak and his brothers the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel
and his brothers arose and built the altar of the God of Israel to offer burnt offerings on it, as the
scriptures state in the law of Moses, the man of God.
3
So they set up the altar on its foundation, for they became terrified because of the peoples of the
lands; and they offered burnt offerings on it to the LORD, burnt offerings morning and evening.
4
They celebrated the Feast of Booths, as the scriptures state, and offered the fixed number of
burnt offerings daily, according to the ordinance, as each day required;
5
and afterward they kept a continual burnt offering, also for the new moons and for all the fixed
festivals of the LORD that the LORD consecrated, and from everyone who offered a freewill
offering to the LORD.
6
From the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the LORD, but
they had not laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD.
7
Then they gave money to the masons and carpenters, and food, drink and oil to the Sidonians
and to the Tyrians, to bring cedar wood from Lebanon to the sea at Joppa, according to the
permission they had from Cyrus king of Persia.

Temple Restoration Begun


8
Now in the second year of their coming to the house of God at Jerusalem in the second month,
Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak and the rest of their brothers the
priests and the Levites, and all who came from the captivity to Jerusalem, began the work and
appointed the Levites from twenty years and older to oversee the work of the house of the
LORD.
9
Then Jeshua with his sons and brothers stood united with Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of
Judah and the sons of Henadad with their sons and brothers the Levites, to oversee the workmen
in the temple of God.
10
Now when the builders had laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests stood in
their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the
LORD according to the directions of King David of Israel.
11
They sang, praising and giving thanks to the LORD, saying, "For we know Him as good, for
His loving kindness he lavishes upon Israel forever." And all the people shouted with a great
shout when they praised the LORD because they had completed the foundation of the house of
the LORD.
12
Yet many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers' households, the old men who had
seen the first temple, wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this house was laid before
their eyes, while many shouted aloud for joy,
13
so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the shout of joy from the sound of the
weeping of the people, for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the sound people heard a
long way off.
Ezra 4

NASB E-Prime DFM

Adversaries Hinder the Work


1
Now when the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the people of the exile had started to
build a temple to the LORD God of Israel,
2
they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of fathers' households, and said to them, "Let us
build with you, for we, like you, seek your God; and we have sacrificed to Him since the days of
Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us up here."
3
But Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the rest of the heads of fathers' households of Israel said to
them, "You have nothing in common with us in building a house to our God; but we ourselves
will together build to the LORD God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia has commanded
us."
4
Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah, and frightened them from
building,
5
and hired counselors against them to frustrate their counsel all the days of Cyrus king of Persia,
even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.
6
Now in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against
the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
7
And in the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel and the rest of his colleagues wrote
to Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the text of the letter he had written in Aramaic and translated
from Aramaic.

The Letter to King Artaxerxes


8
Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to King
Artaxerxes, as follows--
9
then wrote Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe and the rest of their colleagues, the
judges and the lesser governors, the officials, the secretaries, the men of Erech, the Babylonians,
the men of Susa, namely, the Elamites,
10
and the rest of the nations which the great and honorable Osnappar deported and settled in the
city of Samaria, and in the rest of the region beyond the River. Now
11
this represents the copy of the letter which they sent to him: "To King Artaxerxes: Your
servants, the men in the region beyond the River, and now
12
let the king know that the Jews who came up from you have come to us at Jerusalem; they
rebuild the rebellious and evil city and have started to finish the walls and repairing the
foundations.
13
"Now the king know, that if they rebuild that city and finish these walls, they will not pay
tribute, custom or toll, and it will damage the revenue of the kings.
14
"Now because we serve the palace, and it does not seem fitting for us to see the king's
dishonor, therefore we have sent and informed the king,
15
so that you search the record books of your fathers. And you will discover in the record books
and learn that that city has rebelled and damaged kings and provinces, and that they have incited
revolt within it in past days; therefore that city had become ruined.
16
"We inform the king that if they rebuild that city and finish the walls finished, as a result you
will have no possession in the province beyond the River."

The King Replies and Work Stops


17
Then the king sent an answer to Rehum the commander, to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest
of their colleagues who live in Samaria and in the rest of the provinces beyond the River: "Peace.
And now
18
the document which you sent to us people have translated and read before me.
19
"I issued a decree, and I have made a search, discovering that that city has risen up against the
kings in past days, that people have perpetrated rebellion and revolt,
20
that mighty kings have ruled over Jerusalem, governing all the provinces beyond the River, and
people have paid tribute, custom and toll to them.
21
"So, now issue a decree to make these men stop work, that this city may not become rebuilt
until I issue a decree.
22
"Beware of having negligence in carrying out this matter; why should damage increase to the
detriment of the kings?"
23
Then as soon as they read the copy of King Artaxerxes' document before Rehum and Shimshai
the scribe and their colleagues, they went in haste to Jerusalem to the Jews and stopped them by
force of arms.
24
Then work on the house of God in Jerusalem ceased, and they stopped it until the second year
of the reign of Darius king of Persia.
Ezra 5

NASB E-Prime DFM

Temple Work Resumed


1
When the prophets, Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews
who lived in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, who ruled over them,
2
then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak arose and began to rebuild
the house of God which is in Jerusalem; and the prophets of God accompanied them supporting
them.
3
At that time Tattenai, the governor of the province beyond the River, and Shethar-bozenai and
their colleagues came to them and spoke to them thus, "Who issued you a decree to rebuild this
temple and to finish this structure?"
4
Then we told them accordingly what the names of the men who reconstructed this building.
5
But the eye of their God fixed on the elders of the Jews, and they did not stop them until a
report could come to Darius, and they would return a written reply concerning it.

Adversaries Write to Darius


6
This constitutes the copy of the letter which Tattenai, the governor of the province beyond the
River, and Shethar-bozenai and his colleagues the officials, who lived beyond the River, sent to
Darius the king.
7
They sent a report to him which had become written thus: "To Darius the king, all peace.
8
"We acknowledge to the king that we have gone to the province of Judah, to the house of the
great God, which people build with huge stones, and lay beams in the walls; and this work they
will make with great care and succeed with their hands.
9
"Then we asked those elders and said to them thus, 'Who issued you a decree to rebuild this
temple and to finish this structure?'
10
"We also asked them their names so as to inform you, and that we might write down the names
of the men who headed them.
11
"Thus they answered us, saying, 'We consider ourselves the servants of the God of heaven and
earth and rebuild the temple that people built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built
and finished.
12
'But because our fathers had provoked the God of heaven to wrath, He gave them into the hand
of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this temple and deported the
people to Babylon.
13
'However, in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, King Cyrus issued a decree to rebuild this
house of God.
14
'Also the gold and silver utensils of the house of God which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from
the temple in Jerusalem, and brought them to the temple of Babylon, these King Cyrus took from
the temple of Babylon and they came to one who had the name of Sheshbazzar, whom he had
appointed governor.
15
'He said to him, "Take these utensils, go and deposit them in the temple in Jerusalem and let
them rebuild the house of God in its place."
16
'Then that Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of the house of God in Jerusalem; and
from then until now it has remained under construction and it has not yet reached completion.'
17
"Now if it pleases the king, let us conduct a search in the king's treasure house, which locates
there in Babylon, if it should come to pass that King Cyrus issued a to rebuild this house of God
at Jerusalem; and let the king send to us his decision concerning this matter."

Ezra 6

NASB E-Prime DFM

Darius Finds Cyrus's Decree


1
Then King Darius issued a decree, and ordered a search made in the archives, where kings had
stored the treasures in Babylon.
2
In Ecbatana in the fortress, which locates in the province of Media, a scroll was found and there
was written in it as follows: "Memorandum--
3
"In the first year of King Cyrus, Cyrus the king issued a decree: 'Concerning the house of God
at Jerusalem, let the temple, the place where people offer sacrifices, to rebuild it and retain
foundation, its height measuring 60 cubits and its width 60 cubits;
4
with three layers of huge stones and one layer of timbers. And let the cost come out of the royal
treasury.
5
'Also let the gold and silver utensils of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took from the
temple in Jerusalem and brought to Babylon, be returned and brought to their places in the
temple in Jerusalem; and you shall put them in the house of God.'
6
"Now therefore, Tattenai, governor of the province beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai and your
colleagues, the officials of the provinces beyond the River, keep away from there.
7
"Leave this work on the house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the
Jews rebuild this house of God on its site.
8
"Moreover, I issue a decree concerning what you shall do for these elders of Judah in the
rebuilding of this house of God: the full cost will become paid to these people from the royal
treasury out of the taxes of the provinces beyond the River, and that without delay.
9
"Whatever you need both young bulls, rams, and lambs for a burnt offering to the God of
heaven, and wheat, salt, wine and anointing oil, as the priests in Jerusalem request, it will come
to them daily without fail,
10
that they may offer acceptable sacrifices to the God of heaven and pray for the life of the king
and his sons.
11
"And I issued a decree that any man who violates this edict, people shall draw a timber from
his house and impale him on it and make his house a refuse heap on account of this.
12
"May the God who has caused His name to dwell there overthrow any king or people who
attempts to change it, so as to destroy this house of God in Jerusalem. I, Darius, have issued this
decree, let people carry it out with all diligence!"

The Temple Completed and Dedicated


13
Then Tattenai, the governor of the province beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai and their
colleagues carried out the decree with all diligence, just as King Darius had sent.
14
And the elders of the Jews proved successful in building through the prophesying of Haggai
the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo, and they finished building according to the command
of the God of Israel and the decree of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.
15
This temple reached completion on the third day of the month Adar; it marked the sixth year of
the reign of King Darius.
16
And the sons of Israel, the priests, the Levites and the rest of the exiles, celebrated the
dedication of this house of God with joy.
17
They offered for the dedication of this temple of God 100 bulls, 200 rams, 400 lambs, and as a
sin offering for all Israel 12 male goats, corresponding to the number of the tribes of Israel.
18
Then they appointed the priests to their divisions and the Levites in their orders for the service
of God in Jerusalem, as the scriptures state in the book of Moses.

The Passover Observed


19
The exiles observed the Passover on the fourteenth of the first month.
20
For the priests and the Levites had purified themselves together; all of them remained pure,
then they slaughtered the Passover lamb for all the exiles, both for their brothers the priests and
for themselves.
21
The sons of Israel who returned from exile and all those who had separated themselves from
the impurity of the nations of the land to join them, to seek the LORD God of Israel, ate the
Passover.
22
And they observed the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with joy, for the LORD had
caused them to rejoice, and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria toward them to encourage
them in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.

Ezra 7

NASB E-Prime DFM

Ezra Journeys from Babylon to Jerusalem


1
Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, there went up Ezra son of
Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah,
2
son of Shallum, son of Zadok, son of Ahitub,
3
son of Amariah, son of Azariah, son of Meraioth,
4
son of Zerahiah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki,
5
son of Abishua, son of Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the chief priest.
6
This Ezra went up from Babylon, and he served as a scribe skilled in the law of Moses, which
the LORD God of Israel had given; and the king granted him all he requested because the hand
of the LORD his God rested upon him.
7
Some of the sons of Israel and some of the priests, the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers and
the temple servants went up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.
8
He came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which we mark as in the seventh year of the king.
9
For on the first of the first month he began to go up from Babylon; and on the first of the fifth
month he came to Jerusalem, because the good hand of his God rested upon him.
10
For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD and to practice it, and to teach His
statutes and ordinances in Israel.

King's Decree on Behalf of Ezra


11
Now this constitutes the copy of the decree which King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the
scribe, learned in the words of the commandments of the LORD and His statutes to Israel:
12
"Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven,
perfect peace. And now
13
I have issued a decree that any of the people of Israel and their priests and the Levites in my
kingdom who desire to go to Jerusalem, may go with you.
14
"Forasmuch as the king sent you and his seven counselors inquire of you concerning Judah and
Jerusalem according to the law of your God which you have in your hand,
15
and to bring the silver and gold, which the king and his counselors have freely offered to the
God of Israel, who dwells in Jerusalem,
16
with all the silver and gold which you find in the whole province of Babylon, along with the
freewill offering of the people and of the priests, who offered willingly for the house of their God
which dwells in Jerusalem;
17
with this money, therefore, you shall diligently buy bulls, rams and lambs, with their grain
offerings and their drink offerings and offer them on the altar of the house of your God which
locates in Jerusalem.
18
"Whatever seems good to you and to your brothers to do with the rest of the silver and gold,
you may do according to the will of your God.
19
"Also the utensils which you have received for the service of the house of your God, deliver in
full before the God of Jerusalem.
20
"The rest of the needs for the house of your God, for which you may have occasion to provide,
provide for it from the royal treasury.
21
"I, even I, King Artaxerxes, issue a decree to all the treasurers who live in the provinces
beyond the River, that whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, may
require of you, you shall do it diligently,
22
even up to 100 talents of silver, 100 kors of wheat, 100 baths of wine, 100 baths of oil, and salt
as needed.
23
"Whatever the God of heaven commands, you shall do it with zeal for the house of the God of
heaven, so that no wrath will accrue against the kingdom of the king and his sons.
24
"We also inform you that you will not allow anyone to impose tax, tribute or toll on any of the
priests, Levites, singers, doorkeepers, Nethinim or servants of this house of God.
25
"You, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God which you have in your hand, appoint
magistrates and judges that they may judge all the people who are in the province beyond the
River, even all those who know the laws of your God; and you may teach anyone who has
ignorance of them.
26
"Whoever will not observe the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment become
executed upon him strictly, whether for death or for banishment or for confiscation of goods or
for imprisonment."

The King's Kindness


27
Blessed do we consider the LORD, the God of our fathers, who has put such a thing as this in
the king's heart, to adorn the house of the LORD which locates in Jerusalem,
28
and has extended loving kindness to me before the king and his counselors and before all the
king's mighty princes Thus I received strength according to the hand of the LORD my God upon
me, and I gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me.

Ezra 8

NASB E-Prime DFM

People Who Went with Ezra


1
Now these constitute the heads of their fathers' households and the genealogical enrollment of
those who went up with me from Babylon in the reign of King Artaxerxes:
2
of the sons of Phinehas, Gershom; of the sons of Ithamar, Daniel; of the sons of David, Hattush;
3
of the sons of Shecaniah who came from the sons of Parosh, Zechariah and with him 150 males
who they found in the genealogical list;
4
of the sons of Pahath-moab, Eliehoenai the son of Zerahiah and 200 males with him;
5
of the sons of Zattu, Shecaniah, the son of Jahaziel and 300 males with him;
6
and of the sons of Adin, Ebed the son of Jonathan and 50 males with him;
7
and of the sons of Elam, Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah and 70 males with him;
8
and of the sons of Shephatiah, Zebadiah the son of Michael and 80 males with him;
9
of the sons of Joab, Obadiah the son of Jehiel and 218 males with him;
10
and of the sons of Bani, Shelomith, the son of Josiphiah and 160 males with him;
11
and of the sons of Bebai, Zechariah the son of Bebai and 28 males with him;
12
and of the sons of Azgad, Johanan the son of Hakkatan and 110 males with him;
13
and of the sons of Adonikam, the last ones, these having the names, Eliphelet, Jeuel and
Shemaiah, and 60 males with them;
14
and of the sons of Bigvai, Uthai and Zabbud, and 70 males with them.

Ezra Sends for Levites


15
Now I assembled them at the river that runs to Ahava, where we camped for three days; and
when I observed the people and the priests, I did not find any Levites there.
16
So I sent for Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah and
Meshullam, leading men, and for Joiarib and Elnathan, teachers.
17
I sent them to Iddo the leading man at the place Casiphia; and I told them what to say to Iddo
and his brothers, the temple servants at the place Casiphia, namely, to bring ministers to us for
the house of our God.
18
According to the good hand of our God upon us they brought us a man of insight of the sons of
Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel, namely Sherebiah, and his sons and brothers, 18 men;
19
and Hashabiah and Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, with his brothers and their sons, 20 men;
20
and 220 of the temple servants, whom David and the princes had given for the service of the
Levites, all of them designated by name.

Protection of God Invoked


21
Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our
God to seek from Him a safe journey for us, our little ones, and all our possessions.
22
For I felt ashamed to request from the king troops and horsemen to protect us from the enemy
on the way, because we had said to the king, "The hand of our God has become favorably
disposed to all those who seek Him, but His power and His anger focuses against all those who
forsake Him."
23
So we fasted and sought our God concerning this matter, and He listened to our entreaty.
24
Then I set apart twelve of the leading priests, Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and with them ten of their
brothers;
25
and I weighed out to them the silver, the gold and the utensils, the offering for the house of our
God which the king and his counselors and his princes and all Israel present there had offered.
26
Thus I weighed into their hands 650 talents of silver, and silver utensils worth 100 talents, and
100 gold talents,
27
and 20 gold bowls worth 1,000 darics, and two utensils of fine shiny bronze, precious as gold.
28
Then I said to them, "You we acknowledge as holy to the LORD, and the utensils we consider
holy; and the silver and the gold we acknowledge as a freewill offering to the LORD God of
your fathers.
29
"Watch and keep them until you weigh them before the leading priests, the Levites and the
heads of the fathers' households of Israel at Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of the
LORD."
30
So the priests and the Levites accepted the weighed out silver and gold and the utensils, to
bring them to Jerusalem to the house of our God.
31
Then we journeyed from the river Ahava on the twelfth of the first month to go to Jerusalem;
and the hand of our God rested over us, and He delivered us from the hand of the enemy and the
ambushes by the way.
32
Thus we came to Jerusalem and remained there three days.

Treasure Placed in the Temple


33
On the fourth day the silver and the gold and the utensils they weighed out in the house of our
God into the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest, and with him dwelled Eleazar the son
of Phinehas; and with them the Levites accompanied, Jozabad the son of Jeshua and Noadiah the
son of Binnui.
34
They numbered and weighed everything, recording it at that time.
35
The exiles who had come from the captivity offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel: 12
bulls for all Israel, 96 rams, 77 lambs, 12 male goats for a sin offering, all as a burnt offering to
the LORD.
36
Then they delivered the king's edicts to the king's satraps and to the governors in the provinces
beyond the River, and they supported the people and the house of God.
Ezra 9

NASB E-Prime DFM

Mixed Marriages
1
Now when they had numbered these things, the princes approached me, saying, "The people of
Israel and the priests and the Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the
lands, according to their abominations, those of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the
Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians and the Amorites.
2
"For they have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and for their sons, so that
the holy race has intermingled with the peoples of the lands; indeed, the hands of the princes and
the rulers have contributed foremost in this unfaithfulness."
3
When I heard about this matter, I tore my garment and my robe, and pulled some of the hair
from my head and my beard, and sat down appalled.
4
Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel on account of the unfaithfulness
of the exiles gathered to me, and I sat appalled until the evening offering.

Prayer of Confession
5
But at the evening offering I arose from my humiliation, even with my garment and my robe
torn, and I fell on my knees and stretched out my hands to the LORD my God;
6
and I said, "O my God, I feel shame and embarrassment to lift up my face to You, my God, for
our iniquities have risen above our heads and our guilt has grown even to the heavens.
7
"Since the days of our fathers to this day we have lived in great guilt, and on account of our
iniquities we, our kings and our priests have fallen into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the
sword, to captivity and to plunder and to open shame, as it seems this day.
8
"But now for a brief moment grace has shown from the LORD our God, to leave us an escaped
remnant and to give us a peg in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and grant us
a little reviving in our bondage.
9
"For we acknowledge ourselves as slaves; yet in our bondage our God has not forsaken us, but
has extended loving kindness to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us reviving to raise
up the house of our God, to restore its ruins and to give us a wall in Judah and Jerusalem.
10
"Now, our God, what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken Your commandments,
11
which You have commanded by Your servants the prophets, saying, 'The land which you enter
to possess you shall consider as an unclean land with the uncleanness of the peoples of the lands,
with their abominations which have filled it from end to end and with their impurity.
12
'So now do not give your daughters to their sons nor take their daughters to your sons, and
never seek their peace or their prosperity, that you may remain strong and eat the good things of
the land and leave it as an inheritance to your sons forever.'
13
"After all that has come upon us for our evil deeds and our great guilt, since You our God have
requited us less than our iniquities deserve, and have given us an escaped remnant as this,
14
shall we again break Your commandments and intermarry with the peoples who commit these
abominations? Would You not have anger with us to the point of destruction, until there remains
no remnant nor any who escape?
15
"O LORD God of Israel, You we acknowledge as righteous, for we have found ourselves an
escaped remnant, as this day; behold, we stand before You in our guilt, for no one can stand
before You because of this."

Ezra 10

NASB E-Prime DFM

Reconciliation with God


1
Now while Ezra prayed and made confession, weeping and prostrating himself before the
house of God, a very large assembly, men, women and children, gathered to him from Israel; for
the people wept bitterly.
2
Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, said to Ezra, "We have proved unfaithful
to our God and have married foreign women from the peoples of the land; yet now we have hope
for Israel in spite of this.
3
"So now let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives and their children,
according to the counsel of my lord and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God;
and let us do it according to the law.
4
"Arise! For this matter has become your responsibility, but we will remain with you; have
courage and act."
5
Then Ezra rose and made the leading priests, the Levites and all Israel, take oath that they
would do according to this proposal; so they took the oath.
6
Then Ezra rose from before the house of God and went into the chamber of Jehohanan the son
of Eliashib Although he went there, he did not eat bread nor drink water, for he mourned over
the unfaithfulness of the exiles.
7
They made a proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem to all the exiles, that they should
assemble at Jerusalem,
8
and that whoever would not come within three days, according to the counsel of the leaders and
the elders, all his possessions he should forfeit and he himself will find himself excluded from
the assembly of the exiles.
9
So all the men of Judah and Benjamin assembled at Jerusalem within the three days. It had
become the ninth month on the twentieth of the month, and all the people sat in the open square
before the house of God, trembling because of this matter and the heavy rain.
10
Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, "You have behaved unfaithfully and have
married foreign wives adding to the guilt of Israel.
11
"Now therefore, make confession to the LORD God of your fathers and do His will; and
separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from the foreign wives."
12
Then all the assembly replied with a loud voice, "That we acknowledge as correct! As you
have said, so it becomes our duty to do.
13
"But there live many people; it has become the rainy season and we cannot stand in the open.
Nor can we complete the task in one or two days, for we have transgressed greatly in this matter.
14
"Let our leaders represent the whole assembly and let all those in our cities who have married
foreign wives come at appointed times, together with the elders and judges of each city, until the
fierce anger of our God on account of this matter has turned away from us."
15
Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahzeiah the son of Tikvah opposed this, with Meshullam
and Shabbethai the Levite supporting them.
16
But the exiles did so. And Ezra the priest selected men who headed households for each of
their father's households, all of them by name. So they convened on the first day of the tenth
month to investigate the matter.
17
They finished investigating all the men who had married foreign wives by the first day of the
first month.

List of Offenders
18
Among the sons of the priests who had married foreign wives consisted of the sons of Jeshua
the son of Jozadak, and his brothers: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib and Gedaliah.
19
They pledged to put away their wives, and having admitted guilt, they offered a ram of the
flock for their offense.
20
Of the sons of Immer we acknowledged Hanani and Zebadiah;
21
and of the sons of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel and Uzziah;
22
and of the sons of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad and Elasah.
23
Of Levites we acknowledged Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (namely, Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah and
Eliezer.
24
Of the singers we acknowledged Eliashib; and of the gatekeepers: Shallum, Telem and Uri.
25
Of Israel, of the sons of Parosh we acknowledged Ramiah, Izziah, Malchijah, Mijamin,
Eleazar, Malchijah and Benaiah;
26
and of the sons of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth and Elijah;
27
and of the sons of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad and Aziza;
28
and of the sons of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai and Athlai;
29
and of the sons of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch and Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal and Jeremoth;
30
and of the sons of Pahath-moab: Adna, Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui
and Manasseh;
31
and of the sons of Harim: Eliezer, Isshijah, Malchijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,
32
Benjamin, Malluch and Shemariah;
33
of the sons of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh and Shimei;
34
of the sons of Bani: Maadai, Amram, Uel,
35
Benaiah, Bedeiah, Cheluhi,
36
Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib,
37
Mattaniah, Mattenai, Jaasu,
38
Bani, Binnui, Shimei,
39
Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah,
40
Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai,
41
Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah,
42
Shallum, Amariah and Joseph.
43
Of the sons of Nebo we acknowledged Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, Joel and
Benaiah.
44
All these had married foreign wives, and some of them had wives by whom they had children.
Nehemiah 1-13

Nehemiah 1

Rendered into E-Prime by Dr. David F. Maas

Nehemiah's Grief for the Exiles


1
The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah Now it happened in the month Chislev, in the
twentieth year, while I lived in Susa the capitol,
2
that Hanani, one of my brothers, and some men from Judah came; and I asked them concerning
the Jews who had escaped and had survived the captivity, and about Jerusalem.
3
They said to me, "The remnant there in the province who survived the captivity have fallen in
great distress and reproach, and the wall of Jerusalem has broken down and its gates burn with
fire."
4
When I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days; and I fasted and prayed
before the God of heaven.
5
I said, "I beseech You, O LORD God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who preserves the
covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments,
6
let Your ear now become attentive and Your eyes open to hear the prayer of Your servant which
I pray before You now, day and night, on behalf of the sons of Israel Your servants, confessing
the sins of the sons of Israel which we have sinned against You; I and my father's house have
sinned.
7
"We have acted very corruptly against You and have not kept the commandments, nor the
statutes, nor the ordinances which You commanded Your servant Moses.
8
"Remember the word which You commanded Your servant Moses, saying, 'If you prove
unfaithful I will scatter you among the peoples;
9
but if you return to Me and keep My commandments and do them, though those of you who
have scattered I found in the most remote part of the heavens, I will gather them from there and
will bring them to the place where I have chosen to cause My name to dwell.'
10
"They have become Your servants and Your people whom You redeemed by Your great power
and by Your strong hand.
11
"O Lord, I beseech You, may Your ear become attentive to the prayer of Your servant and the
prayer of Your servants who delight to revere Your name, and make Your servant successful
today and grant him compassion before this man " Now I served as the cupbearer to the king.
Nehemiah 2

NASB E-Prime DFM

Nehemiah's Prayer Answered


1
And it came about in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, that wine
stood before him and I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not looked sad in his
presence.
2
So the king said to me, "Why does your face appear sad though you don’t seem sick? This
could represent nothing but sadness of heart." Then I felt very much afraid.
3
I said to the king, "Let the king live forever Why should my face not appear sad when the city,
the place of my fathers' tombs, lies desolate and its gates have burned in the fire?"
4
Then the king said to me, "What would you request?" So I prayed to the God of heaven.
5
I said to the king, "If it please the king, and if your servant has found favor before you, send me
to Judah, to the city of my fathers' tombs, that I may rebuild it."
6
Then the king said to me, the queen sitting beside him, "How long will your journey take, and
when will you return?" So it pleased the king to send me, and I gave him a definite time.
7
And I said to the king, "If it please the king, let you give me letters for the governors of the
provinces beyond the River, that they may allow me to pass through until I come to Judah,
8
and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams
for the gates of the fortress which locates by the temple, for the wall of the city and for the house
to which I will go" And the king granted them to me because the good hand of my God rested on
me.
9
Then I came to the governors of the provinces beyond the River and gave them the king's letters
Now the king had sent with me officers of the army and horsemen.
10
When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about it, it displeased
them that someone had come to seek the welfare of the sons of Israel.

Nehemiah Inspects Jerusalem's Walls


11
So I came to Jerusalem and remained there three days.
12
And I arose in the night, I and a few men with me. I did not tell anyone what my God had put
into my mind to do for Jerusalem and I had no animal with me except the animal on which I
rode.
13
So I went out at night by the Valley Gate in the direction of the Dragon's Well and on to the
Refuse Gate, inspecting the walls of Jerusalem which had broken down and its gates had burned
in the fire.
14
Then I passed on to the Fountain Gate and the King's Pool, but I could find no place for my
mount to pass.
15
So I went up at night by the ravine and inspected the wall. Then I entered the Valley Gate again
and returned.
16
The officials did not know where I had gone or what I had done; nor had I as yet told the Jews,
the priests, the nobles, the officials or the rest who did the work.
17
Then I said to them, "You see the bad situation we find ourselves in, that Jerusalem has
become desolate and its gates burned by fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem so that
we will no longer seem a reproach."
18
I told them how the hand of my God had proved favorable to me and also about the king's
words which he had spoken to me. Then they said, "Let us arise and build." So they put their
hands to the good work.
19
But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab
heard it, they mocked us and despised us and said, "What thing do you do? Do you rebel against
the king?"
20
So I answered them and said to them, "The God of heaven will give us success; therefore we
His servants will arise and build, but you have no portion, right or memorial in Jerusalem."

Nehemiah 3

NASB E-Prime DFM

Builders of the Walls


1
Then Eliashib the high priest arose with his brothers the priests and built the Sheep Gate; they
consecrated it and hung its doors They consecrated the wall to the Tower of the Hundred and the
Tower of Hananel.
2
Next to him the men of Jericho built, and next to them Zaccur the son of Imri built.
3
Now the sons of Hassenaah built the Fish Gate; they laid its beams and hung its doors with its
bolts and bars.
4
Next to them Meremoth the son of Uriah the son of Hakkoz made repairs. And next to him
Meshullam the son of Berechiah the son of Meshezabel made repairs. And next to him Zadok the
son of Baana also made repairs.
5
Moreover, next to him the Tekoites made repairs, but their nobles did not support the work of
their masters.
6
Joiada the son of Paseah and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah repaired the Old Gate; they laid
its beams and hung its doors with its bolts and its bars.
7
Next to them Melatiah the Gibeonite and Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon and of
Mizpah, also made repairs for the official seat of the governor of the province beyond the River.
8
Next to him Uzziel the son of Harhaiah of the goldsmiths made repairs And next to him
Hananiah, one of the perfumers, made repairs, and they restored Jerusalem as far as the Broad
Wall.
9
Next to them Rephaiah the son of Hur, the official of half the district of Jerusalem, made
repairs.
10
Next to them Jedaiah the son of Harumaph made repairs opposite his house. And next to him
Hattush the son of Hashabneiah made repairs.
11
Malchijah the son of Harim and Hasshub the son of Pahath-moab repaired another section and
the Tower of Furnaces.
12
Next to him Shallum the son of Hallohesh, the official of half the district of Jerusalem, made
repairs, he and his daughters.
13
Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah repaired the Valley Gate. They built it and hung its doors
with its bolts and its bars, and a thousand cubits of the wall to the Refuse Gate.
14
Malchijah the son of Rechab, the official of the district of Beth-haccherem repaired the Refuse
Gate. He built it and hung its doors with its bolts and its bars.
15
Shallum the son of Col-hozeh, the official of the district of Mizpah, repaired the Fountain Gate
He built it, covered it and hung its doors with its bolts and its bars, and the wall of the Pool of
Shelah at the king's garden as far as the steps that descend from the city of David.
16
After him Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, official of half the district of Beth-zur, made repairs as
far as a point opposite the tombs of David, and as far as the artificial pool and the house of the
mighty men.
17
After him the Levites carried out repairs under Rehum the son of Bani. Next to him Hashabiah,
the official of half the district of Keilah, carried out repairs for his district.
18
After him their brothers carried out repairs under Bavvai the son of Henadad, official of the
other half of the district of Keilah.
19
Next to him Ezer the son of Jeshua, the official of Mizpah, repaired another section in front of
the ascent of the armory at the Angle.
20
After him Baruch the son of Zabbai zealously repaired another section, from the Angle to the
doorway of the house of Eliashib the high priest.
21
After him Meremoth the son of Uriah the son of Hakkoz repaired another section, from the
doorway of Eliashib's house even as far as the end of his house.
22
After him the priests, the men of the valley, carried out repairs.
23
After them Benjamin and Hasshub carried out repairs in front of their house. After them
Azariah the son of Maaseiah, son of Ananiah, carried out repairs beside his house.
24
After him Binnui the son of Henadad repaired another section, from the house of Azariah as far
as the Angle and as far as the corner.
25
Palal the son of Uzai made repairs in front of the Angle and the tower projecting from the
upper house of the king, which stands by the court of the guard. After him Pedaiah the son of
Parosh made repairs.
26
The temple servants living in Ophel made repairs as far as the front of the Water Gate toward
the east and the projecting tower.
27
After them the Tekoites repaired another section in front of the great projecting tower and as
far as the wall of Ophel.
28
Above the Horse Gate the priests carried out repairs, each in front of his house.
29
After them Zadok the son of Immer carried out repairs in front of his house. And after him
Shemaiah the son of Shecaniah, the keeper of the East Gate, carried out repairs.
30
After him Hananiah the son of Shelemiah, and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph, repaired another
section. After him Meshullam the son of Berechiah carried out repairs in front of his own
quarters.
31
After him Malchijah, one of the goldsmiths, carried out repairs as far as the house of the
temple servants and of the merchants, in front of the Inspection Gate and as far as the upper
room of the corner.
32
Between the upper room of the corner and the Sheep Gate the goldsmiths and the merchants
carried out repairs.
Nehemiah 4

NASB E-Prime DFM

Sanballat Ridicules Work


1
Now it came about that when Sanballat heard that we had started to rebuild the wall, he became
furious and very angry and mocked the Jews.
2
He spoke in the presence of his brothers and the wealthy men of Samaria and said, "What do
these feeble Jews think that they have accomplished? Will they restore it for themselves? Can
they offer sacrifices? Can they finish in a day? Can they revive the stones from the dusty rubble
even the burned ones?"
3
Now Tobiah the Ammonite lived near him and he said, "Even what they build--if a fox should
jump on it, he would break their stone wall down!"
4
Hear, O our God, how we feel despised! Return their reproach on their own heads and give
them up for plunder in a land of captivity.
5
Do not forgive their iniquity and let not their sin become blotted out before You, for they have
demoralized the builders.
6
So we built the wall and we joined together the whole wall to half its height, for the people had
a mind to work.
7
Now when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the
repair of the walls of Jerusalem went on, and that we began to close the breaches, they became
very angry.
8
All of them conspired together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause a disturbance
in it.

Discouragement Overcome
9
But we prayed to our God, and because of them we set up a guard against them day and night.
10
Thus in Judah people said,
"The strength of the burden bearers has failed,
Yet much rubbish abounds;
And we ourselves feel unable
To rebuild the wall."
11
Our enemies said, "They will not know or see until we come among them, kill them and put a
stop to the work."
12
When the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times, "They will come up against us
from every place where you may turn,"
13
then I stationed men in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, the exposed places, and I
stationed the people in families with their swords, spears and bows.
14
When I saw their fear, I rose and spoke to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people:
"Do not fear them; remember the Lord who we acknowledge as great and awesome, and fight for
your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives and your houses."
15
When our enemies heard that we knew their plan, and that God had frustrated their plan, then
all of us returned to the wall, each one to his work.
16
From that day on, half of my servants carried on the work while half of them held the spears,
the shields, the bows and the breastplates; and the captains remained behind the whole house of
Judah.
17
Those who rebuilt the wall and those who carried burdens took their load with one hand doing
the work and the other holding a weapon.
18
As for the builders, each wore his sword girded at his side as he built, while the trumpeter
stood near me.
19
I said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, "The work seems great and
extensive, and we feel separated on the wall far from one another.
20
"At whatever place you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for
us."
21
So we carried on the work with half of them holding spears from dawn until the stars appeared.
22
At that time I also said to the people, "Let each man with his servant spend the night within
Jerusalem so that they serve as a guard for us by night and a laborer by day."
23
So neither I, my brothers, my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us
removed our clothes, each took his weapon even to the water.

Nehemiah 5
NASB E-Prime DFM

Usury Abolished
1
Now there arose a great outcry of the people and of their wives against their Jewish brothers.
2
For those who said, "We, our sons and our daughters have become many; therefore let us get
grain that we may eat and live."
3
Others said, "We have mortgaged our fields, our vineyards and our houses that we might get
grain because of the famine."
4
Also some said, "We have borrowed money for the king's tax on our fields and our vineyards.
5
"Now our flesh resembles the flesh of our brothers, our children like their children Yet behold,
we have forced our sons and our daughters to become slaves, and some of our daughters have
become forced into bondage already, and we feel helpless because our fields and vineyards
belong to others."
6
Then I felt very angry when I had heard their outcry and these words.
7
I consulted with myself and contended with the nobles and the rulers and said to them, "You
have exacted usury, each from his brother!" Therefore, I held a great assembly against them.
8
I said to them, "We according to our ability have redeemed our Jewish brothers who had
become sold to the nations; now would you even sell your brothers that they may become sold to
us?" Then they grew silent and could not find a word to say.
9
Again I said, "The thing which you do does not seem good; should you not walk in the fear of
our God because of the reproach of the nations, our enemies?
10
"And likewise I, my brothers and my servants have lent them money and grain. Please, let us
leave off this usury.
11
"Please, give back to them this very day their fields, their vineyards, their olive groves and
their houses, also the hundredth part of the money and of the grain, the new wine and the oil that
you have extracted from them."
12
Then they said, "We will give it back and will require nothing from them; we will do exactly as
you say" So I called the priests and took an oath from them that they would do according to this
promise.
13
I also shook out the front of my garment and said, "Thus may God shake out every man from
his house and from his possessions who does not fulfill this promise; even thus may he become
shaken out and emptied " And all the assembly said, "Amen!" And they praised the LORD. Then
the people did according to this promise.
Nehemiah's Example
14
Moreover, from the day that I received an appointment to serve as their governor in the land of
Judah, from the twentieth year to the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes, for twelve years,
neither I nor my kinsmen have eaten the governor's food allowance.
15
But the former governors who had served before me laid burdens on the people and took from
them bread and wine besides forty shekels of silver; even their servants domineered the people.
But I did not do so because of the fear of God.
16
I also applied myself to the work on this wall; we did not buy any land, and all my servants
gathered there for the work.
17
Moreover, there stood at my table one hundred and fifty Jews and officials, besides those who
came to us from the nations that lived around us.
18
Now that which we prepared for each day consisted of one ox and six choice sheep, also birds
people prepared for me; and once in ten days all sorts of wine people furnished in abundance Yet
for all this I did not demand the governor's food allowance, because the servitude fell heavy on
this people.
19
Remember me, O my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.

Nehemiah 6

NASB E-Prime DFM

The Enemy's Plot


1
Now when people had reported to Sanballat, Tobiah, to Geshem the Arab and to the rest of our
enemies that I had rebuilt the wall, and that no breach remained in it, although at that time I had
not set up the doors in the gates,
2
then Sanballat and Geshem sent a message to me, saying, "Come, let us meet together at
Chephirim in the plain of Ono." But they had planned to harm me.
3
So I sent messengers to them, saying, "I do a great work and I cannot come down. Why should
the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?"
4
They sent messages to me four times in this manner, and I answered them in the same way.
5
Then Sanballat sent his servant to me in the same manner a fifth time with an open letter in his
hand.
6
In it appeared the message, "we have heard reports among the nations, and Gashmu says, that
you and the Jews have planned to rebel; therefore you rebuild the wall. And you shall serve as
their king, according to these reports.
7
"You have also appointed prophets to proclaim in Jerusalem concerning you, 'A king reigns in
Judah!' And now we will report it to the king according to these reports. So come now, let us take
counsel together."
8
Then I sent a message to him saying, "Such things as you say have not happened, but you
invent them in your own mind."
9
For all of them tried to frighten us, thinking, "They will become discouraged with the work and
it will not get done." But now, O God, strengthen my hands.
10
When I entered the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, who received
confirmation at home, he said, "Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and
let us close the doors of the temple, for they come to kill you, and they will come to kill you at
night."
11
But I said, "Should a man like me flee? And could one such as I go into the temple to save his
life? I will not go in."
12
Then I perceived that surely God had not sent him, but he uttered his prophecy against me
because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.
13
He was hired for this reason, that I might become frightened and act accordingly and sin, so
that they might have an evil report in order that they could reproach me.
14
Remember, O my God, Tobiah and Sanballat according to these works of theirs, and also
Noadiah the prophetess and the rest of the prophets who tried to frighten me.

The Wall Reaches Completion


15
So we completed the wall on the twenty-fifth of the month Elul, in fifty-two days.
16
When all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations surrounding us saw it, they lost their
confidence; for they recognized that this work had reached completion with the help of our God.
17
Also in those days many letters went from the nobles of Judah to Tobiah, and Tobiah's letters
came to them.
18
For many in Judah bound themselves by oath to him because they knew him as the son-in-law
of Shecaniah the son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam the
son of Berechiah.
19
Moreover, they spoke about his good deeds in my presence and reported my words to him.
Then Tobiah sent letters to frighten me.

Nehemiah 7

NASB E-Prime DFM

Census of First Returned Exiles


1
Now when the wall had become rebuilt and I had set up the doors, and the gatekeepers and the
singers and appointed the Levites,
2
then I put Hanani my brother, and Hananiah the commander of the fortress, in charge of
Jerusalem, for he proved a faithful man and feared God more than many.
3
Then I said to them, "Do not let the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun becomes hot,
and while they stand guard, let them shut and bolt the doors. Also appoint guards from the
inhabitants of Jerusalem, each at his post, and each in front of his own house."
4
Now the city grew large and spacious, but the people in it remained few and they didn’t build
many houses.
5
Then my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles, the officials and the people to become
enrolled by genealogies. Then I found the book of the genealogy of those who came up first in
which I found the following record:
6
These constitute the people of the province who came up from the captivity of the exiles whom
Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and who returned to Jerusalem and
Judah, each to his city,
7
who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai,
Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah. The number of men of the people of Israel:
8
the sons of Parosh, 2,172;
9
the sons of Shephatiah, 372;
10
the sons of Arah, 652;
11
the sons of Pahath-moab of the sons of Jeshua and Joab, 2,818;
12
the sons of Elam, 1,254;
13
the sons of Zattu, 845;
14
the sons of Zaccai, 760;
15
the sons of Binnui, 648;
16
the sons of Bebai, 628;
17
the sons of Azgad, 2,322;
18
the sons of Adonikam, 667;
19
the sons of Bigvai, 2,067;
20
the sons of Adin, 655;
21
the sons of Ater, of Hezekiah, 98;
22
the sons of Hashum, 328;
23
the sons of Bezai, 324;
24
the sons of Hariph, 112;
25
the sons of Gibeon, 95;
26
the men of Bethlehem and Netophah, 188;
27
the men of Anathoth, 128;
28
the men of Beth-azmaveth, 42;
29
the men of Kiriath-jearim, Chephirah and Beeroth, 743;
30
the men of Ramah and Geba, 621;
31
the men of Michmas, 122;
32
the men of Bethel and Ai, 123;
33
the men of the other Nebo, 52;
34
the sons of the other Elam, 1,254;
35
the sons of Harim, 320;
36
the men of Jericho, 345;
37
the sons of Lod, Hadid and Ono, 721;
38
the sons of Senaah, 3,930.
39
The priests: the sons of Jedaiah of the house of Jeshua, 973;
40
the sons of Immer, 1,052;
41
the sons of Pashhur, 1,247;
42
the sons of Harim, 1,017.
43
The Levites: the sons of Jeshua, of Kadmiel, of the sons of Hodevah, 74.
44
The singers: the sons of Asaph, 148.
45
The gatekeepers: the sons of Shallum, the sons of Ater, the sons of Talmon, the sons of Akkub,
the sons of Hatita, the sons of Shobai, 138.
46
The temple servants: the sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha, the sons of Tabbaoth,
47
the sons of Keros, the sons of Sia, the sons of Padon,
48
the sons of Lebana, the sons of Hagaba, the sons of Shalmai,
49
the sons of Hanan, the sons of Giddel, the sons of Gahar,
50
the sons of Reaiah, the sons of Rezin, the sons of Nekoda,
51
the sons of Gazzam, the sons of Uzza, the sons of Paseah,
52
the sons of Besai, the sons of Meunim, the sons of Nephushesim,
53
the sons of Bakbuk, the sons of Hakupha, the sons of Harhur,
54
the sons of Bazlith, the sons of Mehida, the sons of Harsha,
55
the sons of Barkos, the sons of Sisera, the sons of Temah,
56
the sons of Neziah, the sons of Hatipha.
57
The sons of Solomon's servants: the sons of Sotai, the sons of Sophereth, the sons of Perida,
58
the sons of Jaala, the sons of Darkon, the sons of Giddel,
59
the sons of Shephatiah, the sons of Hattil, the sons of Pochereth-hazzebaim, the sons of Amon.
60
All the temple servants and the sons of Solomon's servants numbered 392.
61
These came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addon and Immer; but they could not
show their fathers' houses or their descendants, whether they belonged to Israel:
62
the sons of Delaiah, the sons of Tobiah, the sons of Nekoda, 642.
63
Of the priests: the sons of Hobaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, the sons of Barzillai, who took a wife
of the daughters of Barzillai, the Gileadite, and became named after them.
64
These searched among their ancestral registration, but they could not locate it; therefore people
considered them unclean and excluded from the priesthood.
65
The governor said to them that they should not eat from the most holy things until a priest
arose with Urim and Thummim.

Total of People and Gifts


66
The whole assembly together numbered 42,360,
67
besides their male and their female servants, of whom numbered 7,337; and they had 245 male
and female singers.
68
Their horses numbered 736; their mules, 245;
69
their camels, 435; their donkeys, 6,720.
70
Some from among the heads of fathers' households gave to the work. The governor gave to the
treasury 1,000 gold drachmas, 50 basins, 530 priests' garments.
71
Some of the heads of fathers' households gave into the treasury of the work 20,000 gold
drachmas and 2,200 silver minas.
72
That which the rest of the people gave numbered 20,000 gold drachmas and 2,000 silver minas
and 67 priests' garments.
73
Now the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, some of the people, the temple
servants and all Israel, lived in their cities And when the seventh month came, the sons of Israel
lived in their cities.

Nehemiah 8

NASB E-Prime DFM


Ezra Reads the Law
1
And all the people gathered as one man at the square which located in front of the Water Gate,
and they asked Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses which the LORD had given
to Israel.
2
Then Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly of men, women and all who could
listen with understanding, on the first day of the seventh month.
3
He read from it before the square which was in front of the Water Gate from early morning until
midday, in the presence of men and women, those who could understand; and all the people
attended to the book of the law.
4
Ezra the scribe stood at a wooden podium which they had made for the purpose. And beside
him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand; and
Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam on his left
hand.
5
Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people for he stood above all the people; and when
he opened it, all the people stood up.
6
Then Ezra blessed the LORD the great God. And all the people answered, "Amen, Amen!"
while lifting up their hands; then they bowed low and worshiped the LORD with their faces to
the ground.
7
Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah,
Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, explained the law to the people while the people remained
in their place.
8
They read from the book, from the law of God, translating to give the sense so that they
understood the reading.

"This Day We Acknowledge As Holy"


9
Then Nehemiah, who served the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who
taught the people said to all the people, "This day the LORD your God considers holy; do not
mourn or weep." For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law.
10
Then he said to them, "Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to him who has
nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not feel grieved, for the joy of the LORD
shall become your strength."
11
So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, "Remain still, for we acknowledge the day as
holy; do not feel grieved."
12
All the people went away to eat, to drink, to send portions and to celebrate a great festival,
because they understood the words which had become known to them.

Feast of Booths Restored


13
Then on the second day the heads of fathers' households of all the people, the priests and the
Levites gathered before Ezra the scribe that they might gain insight into the words of the law.
14
They found written in the law how the LORD had commanded through Moses that the sons of
Israel should live in booths during the feast of the seventh month.
15
So they proclaimed and circulated a proclamation in all their cities and in Jerusalem, saying,
"Go out to the hills, and bring olive branches and wild olive branches, myrtle branches, palm
branches and branches of other leafy trees, to make booths, as the scriptures state."
16
So the people went out and brought them and made booths for themselves, each on his roof,
and in their courts and in the courts of the house of God, and in the square at the Water Gate and
in the square at the Gate of Ephraim.
17
The entire assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and lived in
them. The sons of Israel had indeed not done so from the days of Joshua the son of Nun to that
day And there arose great rejoicing.
18
He read from the book of the law of God daily, from the first day to the last day and they
celebrated the feast seven days, and on the eighth day they kept a solemn assembly according to
the ordinance.

Nehemiah 9

NASB E-Prime DFM

The People Confess Their Sin


1
Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the sons of Israel assembled with fasting, in
sackcloth and with dirt upon them.
2
The descendants of Israel separated themselves from all foreigners, and stood and confessed
their sins and the iniquities of their fathers.
3
While they stood in their place, they read from the book of the law of the LORD their God for a
fourth of the day; and for another fourth they confessed and worshiped the LORD their God.
4
Now on the Levites' platform stood Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani
and Chenani, and they cried with a loud voice to the LORD their God.
5
Then the Levites, Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah and
Pethahiah, said, "Arise, bless the LORD your God forever and ever!
O may Your glorious name we bless
And exalt above all blessing and praise!
6
"You alone we acknowledge as the LORD You have made the heavens,
The heaven of heavens with all their host,
The earth and all that exists on it,
The seas and all that lives in them
You give life to all of them
And the heavenly host bows down before You.
7
"We acknowledge You as the LORD God,
Who chose Abram
And brought him out from Ur of the Chaldees,
And gave him the name Abraham.
8
"You found his heart faithful before You,
And made a covenant with him
To give him the land of the Canaanite,
Of the Hittite and the Amorite,
Of the Perizzite, the Jebusite and the Girgashite--
To give it to his descendants
And You have fulfilled Your promise,
For You have inherent righteousness.
9
"You saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt,
And heard their cry by the Red Sea.
10
"Then You performed signs and wonders against Pharaoh,
Against all his servants and all the people of his land;
For You knew that they acted arrogantly toward them,
And made a name for Yourself as it has become this day.
11
"You divided the sea before them,
So they passed through the midst of the sea on dry ground;
And their pursuers You hurled into the depths,
Like a stone into raging waters.
12
"And with a pillar of cloud You led them by day,
And with a pillar of fire by night
To light for them the way
In which they should go.
13
"Then You came down on Mount Sinai,
And spoke with them from heaven;
You gave them just ordinances and true laws,
Good statutes and commandments.
14
"So You made known to them Your holy sabbath,
And laid down for them commandments, statutes and law,
Through Your servant Moses.
15
"You provided bread from heaven for them for their hunger,
You brought forth water from a rock for them for their thirst,
And You told them to enter in order to possess
The land which You swore to give them.
16
"But they, our fathers, acted arrogantly;
They became stubborn and would not listen to Your commandments.
17
"They refused to listen,
And did not remember Your wondrous deeds which You had performed among them;
So they became stubborn and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt
But we acknowledge You as a God of forgiveness,
Gracious and compassionate,
Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness;
And You did not forsake them.
18
"Even when they made for themselves
A calf of molten metal
And said, 'This you will acknowledge as your God
Who brought you up from Egypt,'
And committed great blasphemies,
19
You, in Your great compassion,
Did not forsake them in the wilderness;
The pillar of cloud did not leave them by day,
To guide them on their way,
Nor the pillar of fire by night, to light for them the way in which they would go.
20
"You gave Your good Spirit to instruct them,
Your manna You did not withhold from their mouth,
And You gave them water for their thirst.
21
"Indeed, forty years You provided for them in the wilderness and they did not want;
Their clothes did not wear out, nor did their feet swell.
22
"You also gave them kingdoms and peoples,
And allotted them to them as a boundary.
They took possession of the land of Sihon the king of Heshbon
And the land of Og the king of Bashan.
23
"You made their sons numerous as the stars of heaven,
And You brought them into the land
Which You had told their fathers to enter and possess.
24
"So their sons entered and possessed the land
And You subdued before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites,
And You gave them into their hand, with their kings and the peoples of the land,
To do with them as they desired.
25
"They captured fortified cities and a fertile land
They took possession of houses full of every good thing,
Hewn cisterns, vineyards, olive groves,
Fruit trees in abundance
So they ate, became filled and grew fat,
And reveled in Your great goodness.
26
"But they became disobedient and rebelled against You,
And cast Your law behind their backs
And killed Your prophets who had admonished them
So that they might return to You,
And they committed great blasphemies.
27
"Therefore You delivered them into the hand of their oppressors who oppressed them,
But when they cried to You in the time of their distress,
You heard from heaven, and according to Your great compassion
You gave them deliverers who delivered them from the hand of their oppressors.
28
"But as soon as they had rest, they did evil again before You;
Therefore You abandoned them to the hand of their enemies, so that they ruled over them
When they cried again to You, You heard from heaven,
And many times You rescued them according to Your compassion,
29
And admonished them in order to turn them back to Your law
Yet they acted arrogantly and did not listen to Your commandments but sinned against Your
ordinances,
By which if a man observes them he shall live
And they turned a stubborn shoulder and stiffened their neck, and would not listen.
30
"However, You bore with them for many years,
And admonished them by Your Spirit through Your prophets,
Yet they would not give ear.
Therefore You gave them into the hand of the peoples of the lands.
31
"Nevertheless, in Your great compassion You did not make an end of them or forsake them,
For we acknowledge You as a gracious and compassionate God.
32
"Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who keeps covenant
and lovingkindness,
Do not let all the hardship seem insignificant before You,
Which has come upon us, our kings, our princes, our priests, our prophets, our fathers and
on all Your people,
From the days of the kings of Assyria to this day.
33
"However, You remain just in all that has come upon us;
For You have dealt faithfully, but we have acted wickedly.
34
"For our kings, our leaders, our priests and our fathers have not kept Your law
Or paid attention to Your commandments and Your admonitions with which You have
admonished them.
35
"But they, in their own kingdom,
With Your great goodness which You gave them,
With the broad and rich land which You set before them,
Did not serve You or turn from their evil deeds.
36
"Behold, we have become slaves today,
And as to the land which You gave to our fathers to eat of its fruit and its bounty,
Behold, we have become slaves in it.
37
"Its abundant produce appears fit for the kings
Whom You have set over us because of our sins;
They also rule over our bodies
And over our cattle as they please,
So we feel in great distress.

A Covenant Results
38
"Now because of all this
We make an agreement in writing;
And on the sealed document we have included the names of our leaders, our Levites and
our priests. “

Nehemiah 10

NASB E-Prime DFM

Signers of the Document


1
Now on the sealed document appeared the names of: Nehemiah the governor, the son of
Hacaliah, and Zedekiah,
2
Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,
3
Pashhur, Amariah, Malchijah,
4
Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch,
5
Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,
6
Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,
7
Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,
8
Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah. These constituted the priests.
9
And the Levites: Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel;
10
also their brothers Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,
11
Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah,
12
Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,
13
Hodiah, Bani, Beninu.
14
The leaders of the people: Parosh, Pahath-moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani,
15
Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,
16
Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,
17
Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur,
18
Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai,
19
Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai,
20
Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,
21
Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua,
22
Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,
23
Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub,
24
Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek,
25
Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,
26
Ahiah, Hanan, Anan,
27
Malluch, Harim, Baanah.

Obligations of the Document


28
Now the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the temple
servants and all those who had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the law of
God, their wives, their sons and their daughters, all those who had knowledge and understanding,
29
are joining with their kinsmen, their nobles, and have taken on themselves a curse and an oath
to walk in God's law, which they received through Moses, God's servant, and to keep and to
observe all the commandments of GOD our Lord, and His ordinances and His statutes;
30
and that we will not give our daughters to the peoples of the land or take their daughters for
our sons.
31
As for the peoples of the land who bring wares or any grain on the sabbath day to sell, we will
not buy from them on the sabbath or a holy day; and we will forego the crops the seventh year
and the exaction of every debt.
32
We also placed ourselves under obligation to contribute yearly one third of a shekel for the
service of the house of our God:
33
for the showbread, for the continual grain offering, for the continual burnt offering, the
sabbaths, the new moon, for the appointed times, for the holy things and for the sin offerings to
make atonement for Israel, and all the work of the house of our God.
34
Likewise we cast lots for the supply of wood among the priests, the Levites and the people so
that they might bring it to the house of our God, according to our fathers' households, at fixed
times annually, to burn on the altar of the LORD our God, as it appears written in the law;
35
and that they might bring the first fruits of our ground and the first fruits of all the fruit of
every tree to the house of the LORD annually,
36
and bring to the house of our God the firstborn of our sons and of our cattle, and the firstborn
of our herds and our flocks as we see written in the law, for the priests who minister in the house
of our God.
37
We will also bring the first of our dough, our contributions, the fruit of every tree, the new
wine and the oil to the priests at the chambers of the house of our God, and the tithe of our
ground to the Levites, for the Levites receive the tithes in all the rural towns.
38
The priest, the son of Aaron, shall dwell with the Levites when the Levites receive tithes, and
the Levites shall bring up the tenth of the tithes to the house of our God, to the chambers of the
storehouse.
39
For the sons of Israel and the sons of Levi shall bring the contribution of the grain, the new
wine and the oil to the chambers; there we find the utensils of the sanctuary, the priests who
minister, the gatekeepers and the singers Thus we will not neglect the house of our God.

Nehemiah 11

NASB E-Prime DFM

Time Passes; Heads of Provinces


1
Now the leaders of the people lived in Jerusalem, but the rest of the people cast lots to bring
one out of ten to live in Jerusalem, the holy city, while nine-tenths remained in the other cities.
2
And the people blessed all the men who volunteered to live in Jerusalem.
3
Now these represent the heads of the provinces who lived in Jerusalem, but in the cities of
Judah each lived on his own property in their cities--the Israelites, the priests, the Levites, the
temple servants and the descendants of Solomon's servants.
4
Some of the sons of Judah and some of the sons of Benjamin lived in Jerusalem. From the sons
of Judah: Athaiah the son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of
Shephatiah, the son of Mahalalel, of the sons of Perez;
5
and Maaseiah the son of Baruch, the son of Col-hozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah,
the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, the son of the Shilonite.
6
All the sons of Perez who lived in Jerusalem were 468 able men.
7
Now these we name as the sons of Benjamin: Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Joed, the
son of Pedaiah, the son of Kolaiah, the son of Maaseiah, the son of Ithiel, the son of Jeshaiah;
8
and after him Gabbai and Sallai, 928.
9
Joel the son of Zichri became their overseer, and Judah the son of Hassenuah served as second
in command of the city.
10
From the priests: Jedaiah the son of Joiarib, Jachin,
11
Seraiah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the
son of Ahitub, the leader of the house of God,
12
and their kinsmen who performed the work of the temple, 822; and Adaiah the son of Jeroham,
the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashhur, the son of
Malchijah,
13
and his kinsmen, heads of fathers' households, 242; and Amashsai the son of Azarel, the son of
Ahzai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer,
14
and their brothers, valiant warriors, 128. And Zabdiel, the son of Haggedolim, served as their
overseer.
15
Now from the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of
Hashabiah, the son of Bunni;
16
and Shabbethai and Jozabad, from the leaders of the Levites, who had charge of the outside
work of the house of God;
17
and Mattaniah the son of Mica, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, who serves as the leader in
beginning the thanksgiving at prayer, and Bakbukiah, the second among his brethren; and Abda
the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun.
18
All the Levites in the holy city numbered 284.
19
Also the gatekeepers, Akkub, Talmon and their brethren who kept watch at the gates,
numbered 172.
Outside Jerusalem
20
The rest of Israel, of the priests and of the Levites, dwelled in all the cities of Judah, each on
his own inheritance.
21
But the temple servants lived in Ophel, and Ziha and Gishpa had charge of the temple servants.
22
Now Uzzi the son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Mica, from
the sons of Asaph, who performed as the singers for the service of the house of God became the
overseer of the Levites in Jerusalem.
23
For a commandment came to them from the king concerning them and a firm regulation for the
song leaders day by day.
24
Pethahiah the son of Meshezabel, of the sons of Zerah the son of Judah, was the king's
representative in all matters concerning the people.
25
Now as for the villages with their fields, some of the sons of Judah lived in Kiriath-arba and its
towns, in Dibon and its towns, and in Jekabzeel and its villages,
26
and in Jeshua, in Moladah and Beth-pelet,
27
and in Hazar-shual, in Beersheba and its towns,
28
and in Ziklag, in Meconah and in its towns,
29
and in En-rimmon, in Zorah and in Jarmuth,
30
Zanoah, Adullam, and their villages, Lachish and its fields, Azekah and its towns. So they
encamped from Beersheba as far as the valley of Hinnom.
31
The sons of Benjamin also lived from Geba onward, at Michmash and Aija, at Bethel and its
towns,
32
at Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah,
33
Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim,
34
Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat,
35
Lod and Ono, the valley of craftsmen.
36
From the Levites, some divisions in Judah belonged to Benjamin.
Nehemiah 12

NASB E-Prime DFM

Priests and Levites Who Returned to Jerusalem with Zerubbabel


1
Now these represent the priests and the Levites who came up with Zerubbabel the son of
Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,
2
Amariah, Malluch, Hattush,
3
Shecaniah, Rehum, Meremoth,
4
Iddo, Ginnethoi, Abijah,
5
Mijamin, Maadiah, Bilgah,
6
Shemaiah and Joiarib, Jedaiah,
7
Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah and Jedaiah. These constituted the heads of the priests and their kinsmen
in the days of Jeshua.
8
The Levites we identify as Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah who had
charge of the songs of thanksgiving, he and his brothers.
9
Also Bakbukiah and Unni, their brothers, stood opposite them in their service divisions.
10
Jeshua became the father of Joiakim, and Joiakim became the father of Eliashib, and Eliashib
became the father of Joiada,
11
and Joiada became the father of Jonathan, and Jonathan became the father of Jaddua.
12
Now in the days of Joiakim, the priests, the heads of fathers' households we identify: of
Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah;
13
of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah, Jehohanan;
14
of Malluchi, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph;
15
of Harim, Adna; of Meraioth, Helkai;
16
of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam;
17
of Abijah, Zichri; of Miniamin, of Moadiah, Piltai;
18
of Bilgah, Shammua; of Shemaiah, Jehonathan;
19
of Joiarib, Mattenai; of Jedaiah, Uzzi;
20
of Sallai, Kallai; of Amok, Eber;
21
of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; of Jedaiah, Nethanel.

The Chief Levites


22
As for the Levites, the heads of fathers' households became registered in the days of Eliashib,
Joiada, and Johanan and Jaddua; so did the priests in the reign of Darius the Persian.
23
The sons of Levi, the heads of fathers' households, registered in the Book of the Chronicles up
to the days of Johanan the son of Eliashib.
24
The heads of the Levites consisted of Hashabiah, Sherebiah and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel,
with their brothers opposite them, to praise and give thanks, as prescribed by David the man of
God, division corresponding to division.
25
Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon and Akkub served as gatekeepers
keeping watch at the storehouses of the gates.
26
These served in the days of Joiakim the son of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of
Nehemiah the governor and of Ezra the priest and scribe.

Dedication of the Wall


27
Now at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought out the Levites from all their
places, to bring them to Jerusalem so that they might celebrate the dedication with gladness, with
hymns of thanksgiving and with songs to the accompaniment of cymbals, harps and lyres.
28
So the sons of the singers assembled from the district around Jerusalem, and from the villages
of the Netophathites,
29
from Beth-gilgal and from their fields in Geba and Azmaveth, for the singers had built
themselves villages around Jerusalem.
30
The priests and the Levites purified themselves; they also purified the people, the gates and the
wall.

Procedures for the Temple


31
Then I had the leaders of Judah come up on top of the wall, and I appointed two great choirs,
the first proceeding to the right on top of the wall toward the Refuse Gate.
32
Hoshaiah and half of the leaders of Judah followed them,
33
with Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam,
34
Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, Jeremiah,
35
and some of the sons of the priests with trumpets; and Zechariah the son of Jonathan, the son
of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micaiah, the son of Zaccur, the son of Asaph,
36
and his kinsmen, Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah and Hanani, with
the musical instruments of David the man of God. And Ezra the scribe went before them.
37
At the Fountain Gate they went directly up the steps of the city of David by the stairway of the
wall above the house of David to the Water Gate on the east.
38
The second choir proceeded to the left, while I followed them with half of the people on the
wall, above the Tower of Furnaces, to the Broad Wall,
39
and above the Gate of Ephraim, by the Old Gate, by the Fish Gate, the Tower of Hananel and
the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Sheep Gate; and they stopped at the Gate of the Guard.
40
Then the two choirs took their stand in the house of God. So did I and half of the officials with
me;
41
and the priests, Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah and Hananiah,
with the trumpets;
42
and Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malchijah, Elam and Ezer. And the singers
sang, with Jezrahiah their leader,
43
and on that day they offered great sacrifices and rejoiced because God had given them great
joy, even the women and children rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem arose from afar.
44
On that day men also receive appointment over the chambers for the stores, the contributions,
the first fruits and the tithes, to gather into them from the fields of the cities the portions required
by the law for the priests and Levites; for Judah rejoiced over the priests and Levites who served.
45
For they performed the worship of their God and the service of purification, together with the
singers and the gatekeepers in accordance with the command of David and of his son Solomon.
46
For in the days of David and Asaph, in ancient times, there appeared leaders of the singers,
songs of praise and hymns of thanksgiving to God.
47
So all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel and Nehemiah gave the portions due the singers and the
gatekeepers as each day required, and set apart the consecrated portion for the Levites, and the
Levites set apart the consecrated portion for the sons of Aaron.
Nehemiah 13

NASB E-Prime DFM

Foreigners Excluded
1
On that day they read aloud from the book of Moses in the hearing of the people; and they
could find written in it that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God,
2
because they did not meet the sons of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against
them to curse them However, our God turned the curse into a blessing.
3
So when they heard the law, they excluded all foreigners from Israel.

Tobiah Expelled and the Temple Cleansed


4
Now prior to this, Eliashib the priest, who had received appointment over the chambers of the
house of our God, having kinship to Tobiah,
5
had prepared a large room for him, where formerly they put the grain offerings, the
frankincense, the utensils and the tithes of grain, wine and oil prescribed for the Levites, the
singers and the gatekeepers, and the contributions for the priests.
6
But during all this time I lived not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king
of Babylon I had gone to the king. After some time, however, I asked leave from the king,
7
and I came to Jerusalem and learned about the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, by
preparing a room for him in the courts of the house of God.
8
It felt very displeasing to me, so I threw all of Tobiah's household goods out of the room.
9
Then I gave an order and they cleansed the rooms; and I returned there the utensils of the house
of God with the grain offerings and the frankincense.

Tithes Restored
10
I also discovered that the portions of the Levites had not reached them, so that the Levites and
the singers who performed the service had gone away, each to his own field.
11
So I reprimanded the officials and said, "Why have you forsaken the house of God? "Then I
gathered them together and restored them to their posts.
12
All Judah then brought the tithe of the grain, wine and oil into the storehouses.
13
In charge of the storehouses I appointed Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah of
the Levites, and in addition to them we acknowledge Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of
Mattaniah; for they had a reliable reputation, and it became their task to distribute to their
kinsmen.
14
Remember me for this, O my God, and do not blot out my loyal deeds which I have performed
for the house of my God and its services.

Sabbath Restored
15
In those days I saw in Judah some who were treading wine presses on the sabbath, and
bringing in sacks of grain and loading them on donkeys, as well as wine, grapes, figs and all
kinds of loads, and they brought them into Jerusalem on the sabbath day So I admonished them
on the day they sold food.
16
Also men of Tyre lived there who imported fish and all kinds of merchandise, and sold them to
the sons of Judah on the sabbath, even in Jerusalem.
17
Then I reprimanded the nobles of Judah and said to them, "What evil thing have you done, by
profaning the sabbath day?
18
"Did not your fathers do the same, so that our God brought on us and on this city all this
trouble? Yet you add to the wrath on Israel by profaning the sabbath."
19
It came about that just as it grew dark at the gates of Jerusalem before the sabbath, I
commanded that the doors they should close the doors and that they should not open them until
after the sabbath. Then I stationed some of my servants at the gates so that no load would enter
on the sabbath day.
20
Once or twice the traders and merchants of every kind of merchandise spent the night outside
Jerusalem.
21
Then I warned them and said to them, "Why do you spend the night in front of the wall? If you
do so again, I will use force against you." From that time on they did not come on the sabbath.
22
And I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves and come as gatekeepers to
sanctify the sabbath day For this also remember me, O my God, and have compassion on me
according to the greatness of Your loving kindness.

Mixed Marriages Forbidden


23
In those days I also saw that the Jews had married women from Ashdod, Ammon and Moab.
24
As for their children, half spoke in the language of Ashdod, and none of them was able to
speak the language of Judah, but the language of his own people.
25
So I contended with them and cursed them and struck some of them and pulled out their hair,
and made them swear by God, "You shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor take of their
daughters for your sons or for yourselves.
26
"Did not Solomon king of Israel sin regarding these things? Yet among the many nations there
lived no king like him, and his God loved him, and God made him king over all Israel;
nevertheless the foreign women caused even him to sin.
27
"Do we then hear about you that you have committed all this great evil by acting unfaithfully
against our God by marrying foreign women?"
28
Even one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, became a son-in-law of
Sanballat the Horonite, so I drove him away from me.
29
Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the
priesthood and the Levites.
30
Thus I purified them from everything foreign and appointed duties for the priests and the
Levites, each in his task,
31
and I arranged for the supply of wood at appointed times and for the first fruits Remember me,
O my God, for good.

Esther 1-10
Esther 1

Rendered into E-Prime by Dr. David F. Maas

The Banquets of the King

1 Now it took place in the days of Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Ethiopia
over 127 provinces,

2 in those days as King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne, located at the citadel in Susa,

3 in the third year of his reign he gave a banquet for all his princes and attendants, the army
officers of Persia and Media, the nobles and the princes of his provinces being in his presence.

4 And he displayed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor of his great majesty for many
days, 180 days.

5 When these days had come to completion, the king gave a banquet lasting seven days for all
the people who had gathered at the citadel in Susa, from the greatest to the least, in the court of
the garden of the king's palace.

6 They displayed hangings of fine white and violet linen held by cords of fine purple linen on
silver rings and marble columns, and couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of
porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and precious stones.

7 They served drinks in golden vessels of various kinds, and the royal wine flowed plentifully
according to the king's bounty.

8 The drinking took place according to the law, there seemed no compulsion, for so the king had
given orders to each official of his household that he should do according to the desires of each
person.

9 Queen Vashti also gave a banquet for the women in the palace which belonged to King
Ahasuerus.

Queen Vashti's Refusal

10 On the seventh day, when the heart of the king grew merry with wine, he commanded
Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar and Carkas, the seven eunuchs who served
in the presence of King Ahasuerus,

11 to bring Queen Vashti before the king with her royal crown in order to display her beauty to
the people and the princes, for she had much beauty.

12 But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king's command delivered by the eunuchs. Then the
king became very angry and his wrath burned within him.
13 Then the king said to the wise men who understood the times--for it was the custom of the
king so to speak before all who knew law and justice

14 and were close to him: Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena and Memucan,
the seven princes of Persia and Media who had access to the king's presence and sat in the first
place in the kingdom--

15 "According to law, what should happen to Queen Vashti, because she did not obey the
command of King Ahasuerus delivered by the eunuchs?"

16 In the presence of the king and the princes, Memucan said, " Queen Vashti has wronged not
only the king but also all the princes and all the peoples who live in all the provinces of King
Ahasuerus.

17 "For the queen's conduct will become known to all the women causing them to look with
contempt on their husbands by saying, 'King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought
in to his presence, but she did not come.'

18 "This day the ladies of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen's conduct will speak in
the same way to all the king's princes, and there will develop plenty of contempt and anger.

19 "If it pleases the king, let him issue a royal edict and let him write it in the laws of Persia and
Media so that no one can repeal it , that Vashti may no longer come into the presence of King
Ahasuerus, and let the king give her royal position to another who proves more worthy than she.

20 "When the king's edict which he will make becomes heard throughout all his kingdom, great
as it will become, then all women will give honor to their husbands, great and small."

21 This word pleased the king and the princes, and the king did as Memucan proposed.

22 So he sent letters to all the king's provinces, to each province according to its script and to
every people according to their language, that every man should assert himself the master in his
own house and the one who speaks in the language of his own people.

Esther 2

NASB E-Prime DFM

Vashti's Successor Sought


1 After these things when the anger of King Ahasuerus had subsided, he remembered Vashti and
what she had done and what he had decreed against her.

2 Then the king's attendants, who served him, said, "Let us seek beautiful young virgins for the
king.

3 "Let the king appoint overseers in all the provinces of his kingdom that they may gather every
beautiful young virgin to the citadel of Susa, to the harem, into the custody of Hegai, the king's
eunuch, who has charge of the women; and let their cosmetics be given them.

4 "Then let the young lady who pleases the king become queen in place of Vashti." And the
matter pleased the king, and he did accordingly.

5 Now there lived at the citadel in Susa a Jew who had the name of Mordecai, the son of Jair, the
son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite,

6 who had gone into exile from Jerusalem with the captives who had suffered exile with
Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had exiled.

7 He brought up Hadassah, namely Esther, his uncle's daughter, for she had no father or mother.
Now the young lady had much beauty of form and face, and when her father and her mother
died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter.

Esther Finds Favor

8 So it came about when the command and decree of the king became known and many young
ladies gathered to the citadel of Susa into the custody of Hegai, that Esther became summoned
to the king's palace into the custody of Hegai, who had charge of the women.

9 Now the young lady pleased him and found favor with him. So he quickly provided her with
her cosmetics and food, gave her seven choice maids from the king's palace and transferred her
and her maids to the best place in the harem.

10 Esther did not make known her people or her kindred, for Mordecai had instructed her that
she should not make them known.

11 Every day Mordecai walked back and forth in front of the court of the harem to learn how
Esther fared.

12 Now when the turn of each young lady came to go in to King Ahasuerus, after the end of her
twelve months under the regulations for the women--for the days of their beautification reached
completion as follows: six months with oil of myrrh and six months with spices and the
cosmetics for women--

13 the young lady would go in to the king in this way: anything that she desired she could have
her to take with her from the harem to the king's palace.
14 In the evening she would go in and in the morning she would return to the second harem, to
the custody of Shaashgaz, the king's eunuch had charge of the concubines. She would not again
go in to the king unless the king delighted in her and summoned her by name.

15 Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai who had taken
her as his daughter, came to go in to the king, she did not request anything except what Hegai,
the king's eunuch who had charge of the women, advised. And Esther found favor in the eyes of
all who saw her.

16 So Esther received a summons from King Ahasuerus to his royal palace in the tenth month
which we mark as the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.

Esther Becomes Queen

17 The king loved Esther more than all the women, and she found favor and kindness with him
more than all the virgins, so that he set the royal crown on her head and made her queen instead
of Vashti.

18 Then the king gave a great banquet, Esther's banquet, for all his princes and his servants; he
also made a holiday for the provinces and gave gifts according to the king's bounty.

19 When the virgins gathered together the second time, then Mordecai sat at the king's gate.

20 Esther had not yet made known her kindred or her people, even as Mordecai had commanded
her; for Esther did what Mordecai told her as she had done when under his care.

Mordecai Saves the King

21 In those days, while Mordecai sat at the king's gate, Bigthan and Teresh, two of the king's
officials from those who guarded the door, became angry and sought to lay hands on King
Ahasuerus.

22 But the plot became known to Mordecai and he told Queen Esther, and Esther informed the
king in Mordecai's name.

23 Now when the officials investigated the plot and found them guilty, the officials hanged them
both on a gallows; and it appeared in the Book of the Chronicles in the king's presence.

Esther 3

NASB E-Prime DFM

Haman's Plot against the Jews

1 After these events King Ahasuerus promoted Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and
advanced him and established his authority over all the princes who accompanied him.
2 All the king's servants who assembled at the king's gate bowed down and paid homage to
Haman; for so the king had commanded concerning him. But Mordecai neither bowed down nor
paid homage.

3 Then the king's servants who assembled at the king's gate said to Mordecai, "Why do you
transgress the king's command?"

4 Now when they had spoken daily to him and he would not listen to them, that they told Haman
to see whether Mordecai's reason would stand; for he had told them that he had Jewish linneage.

5 When Haman saw that Mordecai neither bowed down nor paid homage to him, Haman filled
with rage.

6 But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone, for they had told him who the people of
Mordecai consisted of; therefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordecai,
who lived throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus.

7 In the first month, which we mark as the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus,
Pur, namely the lot, became cast before Haman from day to day and from month to month, until
the twelfth month, namely the month Adar.

8 Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, "There lives a certain people scattered and dispersed
among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom; their laws differ from those of all other
people and they do not observe the king's laws, so it does not prove in the king's interest to let
them remain.

9 "If it pleases the king, let him decree that they receive the death penalty, and I will pay ten
thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who carry on the king's business, to put into the
king's treasuries."

10 Then the king took his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman, the son of
Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews.

11 The king said to Haman, "The silver belongs to you, and the people also, to do with them as
you please."

12 Then the king's scribes received a summons on the thirteenth day of the first month, and the
scribes wrote just as Haman commanded to the king's satraps, to the governors who ruled over
each province and to the princes of each people, each province according to its script, each
people according to its language, having appeared as written in the name of King Ahasuerus and
sealed with the king's signet ring.

13 Letters travelled by couriers to all the king's provinces to destroy, to kill and to annihilate all
the Jews, both young and old, women and children, in one day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth
month, which we mark as the month Adar, and to seize their possessions as plunder.
14 A copy of the issued edict as law in every province became published to all the peoples so
that they should become ready for this day.

15 The couriers went out impelled by the king's command while the king issued a decree at the
citadel in Susa; and while the king and Haman sat down to drink, the city of Susa tumbled into
confusion.

Esther 4

NASB E-Prime DFM

Esther Learns of Haman's Plot

1 When Mordecai learned all that had taken place, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and
ashes, and went out into the midst of the city and wailed loudly and bitterly.

2 He went as far as the king's gate, for no one could enter the king's gate clothed in sackcloth.

3 In each and every province where the command and decree of the king came, there grew
mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing; and many lay on sackcloth and
ashes.

4 Then Esther's maidens and her eunuchs came and told her, and the queen writhed in great
anguish. And she sent garments to clothe Mordecai that he might remove his sackcloth from him,
but he did not accept them.

5 Then Esther summoned Hathach from the king's eunuchs, whom the king had appointed to
attend her, and ordered him to go to Mordecai to learn what and why this had taken place.

6 So Hathach went out to Mordecai to the city square in front of the king's gate.

7 Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and the exact amount of money that Haman
had promised to pay to the king's treasuries for the destruction of the Jews.

8 He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict which had the king issued in Susa for their
destruction, that he might show Esther and inform her, and to order her to go in to the king to
implore his favor and to plead with him for her people.

9 Hathach came back and related Mordecai's words to Esther.

10 Then Esther spoke to Hathach and ordered him to reply to Mordecai:

11 "All the king's servants and the people of the king's provinces know that for any man or
woman who comes to the king to the inner court who he does not summon, he has but one law,
that he receive the death penalty, unless the king holds out to him the golden scepter so that he
may live. And I have not received a summons to come to the king for these thirty days."

12 They related Esther's words to Mordecai.

13 Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, "Do not imagine that you in the king's palace can
escape any more than all the Jews.

14 "For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from
another place and you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not
attained royalty for such a time as this?"

Esther Plans to Intercede

15 Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai,

16 "Go, assemble all the Jews who live in Susa, and fast for me; do not eat or drink for three
days, night or day. I and my maidens also will fast in the same way. And thus I will go in to the
king, which does not square with the law; and if I perish, I perish."

17 So Mordecai went away and did just as Esther had commanded him.

Esther 5

NASB E-Prime DFM

Esther Plans a Banquet

1 Now it came about on the third day that Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner
court of the king's palace in front of the king's rooms, and the king sat on his royal throne in the
throne room, opposite the entrance to the palace.
2 When the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she obtained favor in his sight; and
the king extended to Esther the golden scepter which he held in his hand. So Esther came near
and touched the top of the scepter.

3 Then the king said to her, "What troubles you, Queen Esther? And what do you request? Even
to half of the kingdom I shall give it to you."

4 Esther said, "If it pleases the king, may the king and Haman come this day to the banquet that
I have prepared for him."

5 Then the king said, "Bring Haman quickly that we may do as Esther desires." So the king and
Haman came to the banquet which Esther had prepared.

6 As they drank their wine at the banquet, the king said to Esther, "What do you request, for I
shall grant it to you. And what do you request? Even to half of the kingdom I shall give you."

7 So Esther replied, "My petition and my request consists of the following:

8 if I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and
do what I request, may the king and Haman come to the banquet which I will prepare for them,
and tomorrow I will do as the king says."

Haman's Pride

9 Then Haman went out that day glad and pleased of heart; but when Haman saw Mordecai in
the king's gate and that he did not stand up or tremble before him, Haman filled with anger
against Mordecai.

10 Haman controlled himself, however, went to his house and sent for his friends and his wife
Zeresh.

11 Then Haman recounted to them the glory of his riches, and the number of his sons, and every
instance where the king had magnified him and how he had promoted him above the princes and
servants of the king.

12 Haman also said, "Even Esther the queen let no one but me come with the king to the
banquet which she had prepared; and tomorrow also I have received her invitation to dine with
the king.

13 "Yet all of this does not satisfy me every time I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's
gate."

14 Then Zeresh his wife and all his friends said to him, "Have a gallows fifty cubits high made
and in the morning ask the king to have Mordecai hanged on it; then go joyfully with the king to
the banquet." And the advice pleased Haman, so he had the gallows made.
Esther 6

NASB E-Prime DFM

The King Plans to Honor Mordecai

1 During that night the king could not sleep so he gave an order to bring the book of records, the
chronicles, and the scribes read them before the king.

2 They found written what Mordecai had reported concerning Bigthana and Teresh, two of the
king's eunuchs who were doorkeepers, that they had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus.

3 The king said, "What honor or dignity has Mordecai received for this?" Then the king's
servants who attended him said, "We have done nothing for him."

4 So the king said, "Who has come into the court?" Now Haman had just entered the outer court
of the king's palace in order to speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on the gallows which
he had prepared for him.

5 The king's servants said to him, "Behold, Haman stands in the court." And the king said, "Let
him come in."

6 So Haman came in and the king said to him, "What should I do for the man whom the king
desires to honor?" And Haman said to himself, "Whom would the king desire to honor more than
me?"

7 Then Haman said to the king, "For the man whom the king desires to honor,

8 let them bring a royal robe which the king has worn, and the horse on which the king has
ridden, and on whose head has placed a royal crown ;

9 and let him hand the robe and the horse over to one of the king's most noble princes and let
them array the man whom the king desires to honor and lead him on horseback through the city
square, and proclaim before him, 'Thus it shall happen to the man whom the king desires to
honor.'"

Haman Must Honor Mordecai

10 Then the king said to Haman, "Take quickly the robes and the horse as you have said, and do
so for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king's gate; do not fall short in anything of all that you
have said."
11 So Haman took the robe and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and led him on horseback
through the city square, and proclaimed before him, "Thus it shall happen to the man whom the
king desires to honor."

12 Then Mordecai returned to the king's gate. But Haman hurried home, mourning, with his
head covered.

13 Haman recounted to Zeresh his wife and all his friends everything that had happened to him.
Then his wise men and Zeresh his wife said to him, "If Mordecai, before whom you have begun
to fall, has Jewish roots, you will not overcome him, but will surely fall before him."

14 While they still talked with him, the king's eunuchs arrived and hastily brought Haman to the
banquet which Esther had prepared.

Esther 7

NASB E-Prime DFM

Esther's Plea

1 Now the king and Haman came to drink wine with Esther the queen.

2 And the king said to Esther on the second day also as they drank their wine at the banquet,
"What do you request, Queen Esther? I shall grant it to you And what do you request? Even to
half of the kingdom I shall give you."

3 Then Queen Esther replied, "If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it pleases the
king, let you give me my life me as my petition, and my people as my request;

4 for we have become sold, I and my people will suffer destruction, to become killed and to
suffer annihilation. Now if people had only sold us as slaves, men and women, I would have
remained silent, for the trouble would not compare with the annoyance to the king."

5 Then King Ahasuerus asked Queen Esther, "Who do you mean, and where do we find him,
who would presume to do thus?"

6 Esther said, "A foe and an enemy I identify as this wicked Haman!" Then Haman became
terrified before the king and queen.

They Hang Haman

7 The king arose in his anger from drinking wine and went into the palace garden; but Haman
stayed to beg for his life from Queen Esther, for he saw that the king had determined against
him.
8 Now when the king returned from the palace garden into the place where they drank wine,
Haman fell on the couch where Esther sat. Then the king said, "Will he even assault the queen
with me in the house?" As the word went out of the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face.

9 Then Harbonah, one of the eunuchs who served before the king said, "Behold indeed, the
gallows stand at Haman's house fifty cubits high, which Haman made for Mordecai who spoke
good on behalf of the king!" And the king said, "Hang him on it."

10 So they hanged Haman on the gallows which he had prepared for Mordecai, and the king's
anger subsided.

Esther 8

NASB E-Prime DFM

Mordecai Promoted

1 On that day King Ahasuerus gave the house of Haman, the enemy of the Jews, to Queen
Esther; and Mordecai came before the king, for Esther had disclosed his relationship to her.

2 The king took off his signet ring which he had taken away from Haman, and gave it to
Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.

3 Then Esther spoke again to the king, fell at his feet, wept and implored him to avert the evil
scheme of Haman the Agagite and his plot which he had devised against the Jews.

4 The king extended the golden scepter to Esther. So Esther arose and stood before the king.

5 Then she said, "If it pleases the king and if I have found favor before him and the matter seems
proper to the king and I have pleased him in his sight, let the scribes write to revoke the letters
devised by Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews who
live in all the king's provinces.

6 "For how can I endure to see the calamity which will befall my people, and how can I endure
to see the destruction of my kindred?"

7 So King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, "Behold, I have given the
house of Haman to Esther, and him they have hanged on the gallows because he had stretched
out his hands against the Jews.

The King's Decree Avenges the Jews


8 "Now you write to the Jews as you see fit, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's signet
ring; for a decree which you write in the name of the king and sealed with the king's signet ring
may not become revoked."

9 So the king's scribes received a calling at that time in the third month (namely, the month
Sivan), on the twenty-third day; and the scribes wrote according to all that Mordecai commanded
to the Jews, the satraps, the governors and the princes of the provinces which extended from
India to Ethiopia, 127 provinces, to every province according to its script, and to every people
according to their language as well as to the Jews according to their script and their language.

10 He wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus, and sealed it with the king's signet ring, and sent
letters by couriers on horses, riding on steeds sired by the royal stud.

11 In them the king granted the Jews who lived in each and every city the right to assemble and
to defend their lives, to destroy, to kill and to annihilate the entire army of any people or province
which might attack them, including children and women, and to plunder their spoil,

12 on one day in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month
(namely, the month Adar).

13 A copy of the edict you will issue as law in each and every province had become published to
all the peoples, so that the Jews would show readiness for this day to avenge themselves on their
enemies.

14 The couriers, hastened and impelled by the king's command, went out, riding on the royal
steeds; and the decree the king gave out at the citadel in Susa.

15 Then Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal robes of blue and white, with
a large crown of gold and a garment of fine linen and purple; and the city of Susa shouted and
rejoiced.

16 For the Jews there became light and gladness and joy and honor.

17 In each and every province and in each and every city, wherever the king's commandment
and his decree arrived, there came gladness and joy for the Jews, a feast and a holiday, and many
among the peoples of the land became Jews, for the dread of the Jews had fallen on them.

Esther 9

NASB E-Prime DFM

The Jews Destroy Their Enemies


1 Now in the twelfth month (namely, the month Adar), on the thirteenth day when the king's
command and edict nearly became executed, on the day when the enemies of the Jews hoped to
gain the mastery over them, it turned to the contrary so that the Jews themselves gained the
mastery over those who hated them.

2 The Jews assembled in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to lay hands
on those who sought their harm; and no one could stand before them, for the dread of them had
fallen on all the peoples.

3 Even all the princes of the provinces, the satraps, the governors and those who did the king's
business assisted the Jews, because the dread of Mordecai had fallen on them.

4 Indeed, Mordecai became great in the king's house, and his fame spread throughout all the
provinces; for the man Mordecai became greater and greater.

5 Thus the Jews struck all their enemies with the sword, killing and destroying; and they did
what they pleased to those who hated them.

6 At the citadel in Susa the Jews killed and destroyed five hundred men,

7 and Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha,

8 Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha,

9 Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai and Vaizatha,

10 the ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Jews' enemy; but they did not lay their
hands on the plunder.

11 On that day they reported to the king the number of those who they killed at the citadel in
Susa.

12 The king said to Queen Esther, "The Jews have killed and destroyed five hundred men and
the ten sons of Haman at the citadel in Susa. What then have they done in the rest of the king's
provinces! Now what do you request? I shall grant it to you. And what do you further request? I
shall also do this for you."

13 Then said Esther, "If it pleases the king, let tomorrow also become granted to the Jews who
live in Susa to do according to the edict of today; and let Haman's ten sons become hanged on
the gallows."

14 So the king commanded that it should happen; and he issued an edict in Susa, and ordered the
execution of Haman's ten sons by hanging.

15 The Jews who lived in Susa assembled also on the fourteenth day of the month Adar and
killed three hundred men in Susa, but they did not lay their hands on the plunder.
16 Now the rest of the Jews who lived in the king's provinces assembled, to defend their lives
and rid themselves of their enemies, and kill 75,000 of those who hated them; but they did not
lay their hands on the plunder.

17 This happened on the thirteenth day of the month Adar, and on the fourteenth day they rested
and made it a day of feasting and rejoicing.

18 But the Jews who lived in Susa assembled on the thirteenth and the fourteenth of the same
month, and they rested on the fifteenth day and made it a day of feasting and rejoicing.

19 Therefore the Jews of the rural areas, who live in the rural towns, make the fourteenth day of
the month Adar a holiday for rejoicing and feasting and sending portions of food to one another.

The Feast of Purim Instituted

20 Then Mordecai recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews who lived in all the
provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far,

21 obliging them to celebrate the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the
same month, annually,

22 because on those days the Jews rid themselves of their enemies, and it became a month
which turned them from sorrow into gladness and from mourning into a holiday; that they
should make them days of feasting and rejoicing and sending portions of food to one another and
gifts to the poor.

23 Thus the Jews undertook what they had started to do, and what Mordecai had written to
them.

24 For Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the adversary of all the Jews, had schemed
against the Jews to destroy them and had cast Pur, namely the lot, to disturb them and destroy
them.

25 But when it came to the king's attention, he commanded by letter that his wicked scheme
which he had devised against the Jews, should return on his own head and that he and his sons
should suffer execution by hanging on the gallows.

26 Therefore they called these days Purim after the name of Pur. And because of the instructions
in this letter, both what they had seen in this regard and what had happened to them,

27 the Jews established and made a custom for themselves and for their descendants and for all
those who allied themselves with them, so that they would not fail to celebrate these two days
according to their regulation and according to their appointed time annually.
28 So these days they were to remember and celebrate throughout every generation, every
family, every province and every city; and these days of Purim were not to fail from among the
Jews, or their memory fade from their descendants.

29 Then Queen Esther, daughter of Abihail, with Mordecai the Jew, wrote with full authority to
confirm this second letter about Purim.

30 He sent letters to all the Jews, to the 127 provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, namely,
words of peace and truth,

31 to establish these days of Purim at their appointed times, just as Mordecai the Jew and Queen
Esther had established for them, and just as they had established for themselves and for their
descendants with instructions for their times of fasting and their lamentations.

32 The command of Esther established these customs for Purim, and scribes wrote it in the
book.

Esther 10

E-Prime DFM

Mordecai's Greatness

1 Now King Ahasuerus laid a tribute on the land and on the coastlands of the sea.

2 And all the accomplishments of his authority and strength, and the full account of the
greatness of Mordecai to which the king advanced him, have scribes not written them in the
Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Media and Persia?

3 For Mordecai the Jew became second only to King Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews and
in favor with his many kinsmen, one who sought the good of his people and one who spoke for
the welfare of his whole nation.

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